ArticlesMediaInequalities, Transitional JusticeValues in South Africa: In Search of Self-RespectIn his Nelson Mandela memorial lecture in late July, President Thabo Mbeki expressed concern about the dominance of acquisitive values amongst South Africans. Mbeki stated that the new political order had inherited from the apartheid years 'a well-entrenched value system that placed individual acquisition of wealth at the very centre of the value system of our society'. Similar concerns were… Read More CSVRSeptember 1, 2006
ArticlesMediaInequalities, PolicingPervasive Violence Reflects Widespread Insecurity About StatusIn his Nelson Mandela memorial lecture on 29 July, President Thabo Mbeki expressed concern about an acquisitive spirit which has taken root amongst South Africans. Mbeki talked of a situation where 'personal wealth, and the public communication of the message that we are people of wealth' becomes 'the means by which we communicate the message that we are worthy citizens… Read More CSVRAugust 20, 2006
ArticlesMediaCriminal Justice, PolicingCrime Statistics: Hidden by the Long Veil of the LawSince 2001 official policy has been that crime statistics will only be released with the publication of the South African Police Service annual report in September. This means that the most current crime statistics in the public domain are already five months old when released in September each year. By July of the following year say these are 15 months… Read More CSVRJuly 28, 2006
ArticlesMediaTorture and State ViolenceSouth Africa May Be Complicit in Torture and 'Disappearance'The debate around the deportation and whereabouts of Khalid Rashid has ignored an important issue. South African authorities may be complicit in the torture of those suspected of involvement in terrorist activities. South Africa has deported foreigners to countries that are known to systematically practice torture and where opponents of the government and terror suspects are known to have "disappeared"… Read More CSVRJune 27, 2006
ArticlesMediaAfrican UnionCelebrating Two Decades of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' RightsThe African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights came into force in 1986, making 2006 the 20th year of its existence. As African heads of state prepare to meet in Banjul, The Gambia for the 7th African Union Summit, Ahmed C Motala evaluates the successes and failures of The Charter for the protection and promotion of human rights on the… Read More CSVRJune 22, 2006
ArticlesMediaPolicingHelping the Police to Police ThemselvesSAPS National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, is known for making off the cuff remarks. It is therefore not clear what should be made of Selebi's remarks, to the select committee on security last week, where he is reported to have motivated for the closing down of South Africa's key police oversight body, the Independent Complaints Directorate. Selebi is reported to have… Read More CSVRMay 22, 2006
