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News & Views by Terry Bell
Farm wages, workers & common interests
We are all trapped in an economic system which, if its demands were judged by human standards, would almost certainly be regarded as criminally insane. Government, perhaps encouraged by the unions, could take steps to introduce an element of stability and fairness to those who suffer most in this global asylum. This could be a step forward to dealing with the lunacy itself.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
The reality of white privilege in SA
May 13, 2018
There were hostile reactions from several quarters in South Africa following Democratic Party leader Mmusi Maimane's statement that white privilege still persists. But the statement was logical and an honest reflection of reality. The reactions tended to reveal a worrying level of blinkered arrogance.
Posted in: Commentary
Wages & the need for financial disclosure
May 13, 2018
It is not in the interests of either employers or employees to have profitable enterprises collapse. Which is why exemption clauses exist in cases of legislated minimum wages. But for such a system to operate honestly, requires full financial disclosure by employers.
Posted in: Commentary, Inside Labour Column
Banks, bonds & rip-offs
May 6, 2018
If you owe a bank R50 000 and cannot repay on time, you have a problem. But if you owe a bank R1 billion and cannot pay, the bank has a problem. This, in monetary terms, sums up the relationship of rich and relatively poor. A sad example of this fact in practice relates to housing and forced sales.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
So much talk, so little sense
May 4, 2018
South Africa has experienced a veritable cascade of words from public platforms over recent weeks — not least on May Day — that seemed to reveal that, while so much has been said it has all contributed very little to any real understanding. A lack of honest, open, discussion seems to have reached crisis proportions.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
The democratic centralist curse
April 30, 2018
Democratic centralism is one of the most abused concepts within the South African political and labour arena. It has come to the fore again in debates around the strike protesting a proposed minimum wage and amendments to the labour laws. Hopefully, such debate will lead to the democratic reforms needed in much of the labour movement.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
SA labour: tension, turmoil — and some hope
April 28, 2018
The mass turnouts on the protest strike called by Saftu on Wednesday in major centres around the country revealed that the newest federation is probably here to stay. And the sniping from the sidelines by Cosatu and Fedusa did nothing to boost their fortunes. However, amid the tension and turmoil there was some hope.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
Sagarmatha & Survé: yet more questions
April 20, 2018
Controversial media tycoon Iqbal Survé's investment management company, 3 Laws Capital, stood to gain more than R50 million had the now postponed Sagarmatha Technologies listing — in which he is the major player — gone ahead. While there are questions about the listing, more questions have been raised about Survé. His profile on the 3 Laws website makes claims about Independent News Media head that, like several other claims in the recent past, are unsubstantiated.
Posted in: Commentary
Terry Bell Writes 
May 13, 2018
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