Debates about land reform in South Africa have reached fever pitch as the country’s parliament moves to vote on expropriation without compensation. The tone of the debate hasn’t been helped by US President Donald Trump entering the fray with a tweet. In this special newsletter we offer a range of previously published articles exploring the issue. Roger Southall sets out the battle lines of those for and against expropriation. Jannie
Rossouw argues that the governing party has mishandled the process. If land expropriation goes ahead, it will require some amendments to the
Constitution; Pierre de Vos explains what this will take. And Steven Friedman argues that a change to the country’s Constitution might actually deliver a positive outcome.
Yet another video in which a white South African made racial remarks on social media has gone viral. It has reignited debate about how the country can tackle racism. In a selection of previously published articles, Penelope Andrews, Chantelle Feldhaus and Rene Koran discuss how the jailing of a woman for using racist slurs set a new precedent. Meanwhile Roger Southall ponders how the law can help change racist minds. Melissa Tandiwe Myambo looks at the
wider problem of white male privilege in emerging economies and John J. Stremlau examines Trump’s first racist comments about Africa.
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Land Expropriation
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Roger Southall, University of the Witwatersrand
South Africans can't afford to let the land debate be reduced to a shouting match.
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Jannie Rossouw, University of the Witwatersrand
South Africa's ruling party, the ANC , is mishandling the process leading towards land expropriation without compensation.
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Pierre de Vos, University of Cape Town
South Africa's constitution has been amended 17 times already. But, the procedure for doing so is onerous.
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Steven Friedman, University of Johannesburg
Clarifying when and how the South African constitution allows for expropriation of land without compensation will strengthen property rights.
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Racism
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Penelope Andrews, University of Cape Town; Chantelle Feldhaus, North-West University; René Koraan, North-West University
Past cases indicate that verbal crimen injuria is not that serious. But a landmark sentence in South Africa has changed that.
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Roger Southall, University of the Witwatersrand
Unexpressed racism may be even more dangerous if it's left lurking below the surface.
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Melissa Tandiwe Myambo, University of Johannesburg
Traditional economists cannot quantify or measure the effect of white male privilege in facilitating business dealings or obtaining employment in emerging market economies.
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John J Stremlau, University of the Witwatersrand
The Trump administration's incompetence makes it difficult for African countries to engage Washington in seeking meaningful explanations, much less substantive negotiations.
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