Author Archives: matthewnovak

Analysis of Social Media is Making it Harder to Protect the Identities of Suspects

In South Africa there is a problem with the South African laws protecting suspects and social media. South Africa has two main laws that are meant to protect the identity of suspects in criminal court cases, the criminal procedure act of 1977 which does not allow any publication of the accused in any way until the day of the court… Read more »

South Africa: Ramaphosa Must ‘Come Clean’ About His Knowledge of State Capture – Maimane

DA leader Mmusi Maimane has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to “come clean” and “turn himself in” to the state capture inquiry. In a statement on Wednesday, Maimane said he agreed with Ramaphosa’s comments on Tuesday when the president said: “For the country to move forward, we need to establish the full extent of state capture, identify those responsible for… Read more »

South Africa: Survey Shows a Majority of South Africans Support Land Reform

Unequal access to land in South Africa continues to prevent citizens from enjoying human dignity, rights and security. The ongoing debates and recent public hearings about land reform policy in the country are therefore crucial from a justice and development perspective. In deciding on the future direction of land policy, the views of citizens must be taken into account.

South Africa: Social Media Is Making It Harder to Protect the Identities of Suspects

A controversy is raging in South Africa over the naming of a man accused of raping a seven-year old childat a restaurant in Pretoria, the capital city, before he had appeared in court. His name and photograph were widely circulated on social media. At least two major Sunday newspapers identified him. The Conversation Africa asked Jameelah Omar, a criminal procedure expert, to explain what is and… Read more »

Land Expropriation – Mbeki Slams ANC for Deviating From Non-Racialism (Analysis post)

Former President of South Africa  Mbeki commented on the ANC, (African National Congress), recent actions especially in regards to the newly passed law of the land expropriation. The land expropriation law is a law which takes away lands from farmers and gives it back to the people who work the land without any compensation. Or in more blunt terms, taking… Read more »

Zimbabwe: Second Republic, ED’s New Political Order

South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko and black consciousness icon once said, “It is better to die for an idea that will live, than to live for an idea that will die”. President Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe has just brought to Zimbabwe the idea of the Second Republic, something that is gaining currency in the political nomenclature. And what a better… Read more »

Zimbabwe: Govt Should Up Support for New Farmers – Shiri

Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Settlement Minister Perrance Shiri has called for more support for new farmers to address food insecurity issues and to boost productivity and exports. He said agriculture was the mainstay of the economy and hence it was critical to render capacity building and material support programmes to both small-scale and commercial farmers. The minister made… Read more »

Zimbabwe: Authorities Swoop On Vendors

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Government officials, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and municipalities around Mashonaland West Province last week launched a blitz on illegal vendors operating in undesignated areas to bring sanity to the province’s urban centres. The operation is targeting illegal food vendors who are accused of fuelling the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhoid. The officials have been engaged in running… Read more »

South Africa: Land Expropriation – Mbeki Slams ANC for Deviating From Non-Racialism

Former president Thabo Mbeki has lashed out at the ANC, saying its new policy to expropriate land without compensation is a deviation from non-racialism, which is the party’s founding principle. This is contained in a 30-page leaked document which has the Thabo Mbeki Foundation emblem on it. It states that taking land from white people to give to black people… Read more »