Subscribe:
RSS feed
News & Views by Terry Bell
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
Evasion & the potential of taxes
March 27, 2019
We live with endemic corruption, along with to obscene wealth on one hand and equally obscene poverty on the other. Much of this is the result of capital flows into private pockets — theft through tax evasion — by rich individuals and corporates around the world. Church-based tax justice groups are now trying to end this practice.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
Democracy & ‘Father Christmas socialism’
March 22, 2019
It t is time to take stock of where we are and where we, in nation states everywhere, may be going. This should apply in particular to trade unions and various political groups outside of Brazil and Venezuela, that have, in recent years, touted those countries, under Chavez and Lula, as models of “socialist alternatives”.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
A union investment dream revisited
March 10, 2019
In South Africa, an innovative investment scheme rejected by Cosatu 27 years ago as “too capitalistic” is again being discussed as austerity bites still harder. It involved settling up a co-operative bank using union pension and provident funds to be invested in residential property, so providing decent homes for workers and breaking down residential apartheid while providing a non-exploitative return on capital.
Posted in: Uncategorized
Terry Bell Writes 
Flawed democracvy & words as weapons
May 4, 2019
0
'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.