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Africa Diary : News from the Continent
Full text linkMauritius ordered all internet service providers to suspend access to social media platforms until a day after the 11 November general election, sparking such outrage from civil society groups that the government of the ruling Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) party was forced to overturn the ruling a day later. “National security” was the reason given by the office of the Prime Minister. As it turned out national security was not at risk. The main opposition party won a landslide victory, preserving an electoral practice of simply and seamlessly alternating power between two dynasties of family leaders since independence from Britain in 1968
What lessons have we learned from Stilfontein?
Full text linkThe Stilfontein disaster, which claimed the lives of dozens of informal miners, has become a flashpoint for broader debates about governance, human rights, and economic justice in South Africa. As noted by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) the tragedy was not merely an accident but a "direct consequence of systemic neglect and the criminalisation of artisanal miners." The government\u27s failure to address the dangers of abandoned mines and its punitive approach to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) have exacerbated the vulnerabilities of marginalised communities
Class Conflict and the Nigerian Labour Movement; Strike, Protests, and Policy Changes
Full text linkThis article examines the relationship between class conflict and the Nigerian labour movement, focusing on the role of strikes, protests, and the subsequent policy changes. The primary objective is to explore how economic inequalities and class divisions fuel labour activism in Nigeria, particularly through the actions of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and various trade unions. The study is grounded in conflict theory, which posits that class struggles and economic disparities are key drivers of social and political change. A qualitative approach is employed, utilizing historical records, government reports, and scholarly literature to analyse the evolution of labour movements and their impact on policy development. The findings indicate that labour strikes and protests are pivotal in challenging class disparities and advocating for improved working conditions, fair wages, and social justice. These movements lead to significant policy changes, including reforms in labour laws and wage policies, though the responses from the government and employers are often reactive rather than proactive. The discussion emphasizes the enduring nature of class conflict in shaping labour relations and policy in Nigeria, concluding that continued advocacy is essential to address ongoing inequalities and ensure lasting socio-economic progress. The article underscores the importance of understanding of class conflict as a driving force behind labour activism and its influence on policy reforms in Nigeria
Solving the Cape Town Puzzle: Class, Politics and Migration in the Informal Food Economy
Full text linkPolitical empowerment possesses significant potential to facilitate the realization of economic inclusion by allowing marginalized groups to make claims on the state in the pursuit of justice and equality. This is particularly promising for individuals engaged in informal economic activity. Cape Town, South Africa, is in many ways a model for this idea: following its post-apartheid democratization process, governments at the local, provincial, and national levels officially recognize the value of informality and have adopted policies to support it. Yet persistent forms of exclusion for those who engage in informal economic activity remain. This article examines why this is the case. In doing so, it explores the forms of marginalization experienced by migrant and non-migrant workers in the Cape Town’s informal food economy and highlights the importance of three factors in explaining why democratization has not translated into greater inclusion: (1) the contours of inequality in the city; (2) the nature of local and national party politics; and (3) the specific dynamics that surround migration and informality. When seeking to translate institutional change into more inclusive forms of development, it emphasizes the importance of paying attention to both open democratic structures and processes and the forms of politics that fill them.
Vol.7 No.2 (2024): WritingThreeSixty: Conflicts of the Wor(l)d: Writing Justice and Peace
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Letter from the Editor
Full text linkIt is with immense pleasure and pride that I present to you the second issue of Volume 7 of WritingThreeSixty with the theme: Conflicts of the Wor(l)d: Writing Justice and Peace. This marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to revive this graduate journal and invite authors from far and wide to captivate us with their academic and creative voices
About the journal
Full text linkWritingThreeSixty is a bi-annual, interdisciplinary journal for research essays and creative works. First launched in 2014 as an initiative of the English department at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), WritingThreeSixty now forms part of the broader community within the Arts Faculty and Humanities at UWC. This journal maintains the standard of peer review and wishes to provide a platform to develop a culture of publishing among postgraduate and emerging student researchers, as well as established creative artists within UWC and South Africa at large.WritingThreeSixty also forms part of co-curricular graduate culture at UWC that affords students the opportunity to develop professional skills through the voluntary leadership and service positions created through the journal. These positions include the management of the journal and its team, editorial outputs, as well as our digital marketing efforts that are presented through social media and our online website
Letter from the Editor
Full text linkI present to you the first issue of Volume 8 of WritingThreeSixty on the theme: Africa in Perspective: Contemporary Issues in Arts and Humanities. This marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to continue this graduate journal and invite authors from far and wide to captivate us with their academic and creative voices