Sadia’s Death Sparks Protests Against Gun Violence
Nine-year-old Sadia Sukhraj was shot and killed during an attempted carjacking on Monday, May 28, in the Shallcross area of Durban, South Africa. Her death has sparked anger among the community and has kicked off a city-wide protestagainst gun violence and crime. Sadia was on her way to school with her father when three armed men approached their car. The armed men allegedly pulled her father out of the car and proceeded to drive away with little
Durban Community Rallies To Help Occupants Of Burned Down Children’s Home
On Tuesday night, a devastating fire tore through the Edith Benson Children’s home in Durban, South Africa. More than fifty children lived there, all between the ages of zero and six years, and fortunately were evacuated on time and escaped unharmed, along with the staff. Paramedics and fire fighters were quick to the scene, where only one person was treated for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is still unknown and investigations are currently underway. The
Newly Elected President Ramaphosa’s SONA Reignites Hope
South Africa’s newly elected President Cyril Ramaphosa just delivered his first speech as the nation’s president – he delivered the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA). A jarring change from last year’s address, this year’s proceedings concluded without any disruptions. (In fact, Baleka Mbete’s presence was hardly noted during the proceedings due to the lack of disruptions for her to call to order). President Ramaphosa delivered an inspiring speech, outlining a clear plan to initiate progress within
The President Of South Africa Just Resigned. What Now?
Following days of uncertainty about the president’s future, South Africans have finally been given an answer to the ongoing question: What is going to happen to President Zuma? For weeks now, the possibility of Zuma being forced to step down was the only thing on the minds of South Africans. After beating the no-confidence vote in August last year, it almost seemed as if Zuma was untouchable. However, recent unanticipated shifts in alliances within the
How Social Media Made It Safer to Talk About Sexual Assault
For so long, our society has quelled the voices of the victims of sexual abuse. Societal norms dictated that speaking about sexual assault was not okay, and victim blaming became the knee-jerk reaction to any sexual abuse story. When a person came out with their sexual abuse story, instead of words of support, or even anger towards the perpetrator, people asked questions about the circumstances that could have led to the assault: What was she wearing?
Is President Zuma’s Time Over?
Last year’s State of the Nation address in South Africa descended into anarchy, which is probably what prompted the postponement of this year’s SONA. Sources state that Deputy President reiterated the fears of Baleka Mbete that the SONA will once again descend into chaos, and convinced President Zuma to postpone the annual address. The postponement could also be due to the country-wide speculation about the removal of President Jacob Zuma. Could it be that the
Colonialism Was Never A Good Thing
There is a common myth that makes its rounds through the minds of those who believe that colonialism greatly benefitted the colonised, that Europeans discovered areas, and through colonisation, civilised and developed these areas, making way for the cities we know today. This is not true. It must be noted that much of the history we are exposed to has been written by the colonists themselves, giving us a truly distorted view of the true
How Internalized Misogyny Is Harmful
Internalized misogyny is the unknowing and often unintended acceptance of sexist ideals by women, the very people that the patriarchy seeks to oppress and control. Internalized misogyny does not refer to the open belief that women are inferior, but rather it manifests as the side effect of this societal view. This side effect causes women to shame, judge, doubt themselves and other women. It causes women to hold themselves and other women in low esteem.
The Violence in Myanmar
Hurricanes, fires and intense politics have been claiming the media’s, and the world’s, attention recently. Therefore, many people are completely unaware of the serious issue in Myanmar. In recent weeks, at least 120,000 Rohingya people have fled Myanmar to seek refuge in Bangladesh. The Rohingya are a Muslim minority group who reside primarily within the Rakhine state in Myanmar. At least 1.1 million people live in Myanmar. Many people have stated that the Rohingya are illegal
Ahmed Timol Inquest: Unethical Apartheid Cover-ups Revealed
Ahmed Timol was an anti-apartheid activist, a member of the South African Communist Party (SACP), and a rather revered South African political leader. Timol fought tirelessly for equality and non-racism during the dark days of the apartheid era, earning him the title of a national hero. He was also the first political detainee to be killed by Security Police at the John Vorster Square in Johannesburg (now known as the Johannesburg Central Police Station). In October