Author: Staff Writer

Since South Africa adopted its post-apartheid constitution in 1996, the country has made important strides in realising the right to social security and in reducing poverty and inequality.

Policies, legislation and administrative infrastructure have enabled the government to create an expansive social security system. Two out of three households receive a social grant and 60% of the workforce is covered by social insurance.

South Africa is now an exemplar of an upper middle-income country that has gone further than many others in growing social protection to promote development.

Nevertheless, the country still has persistent and extraordinarily high rates of poverty, unemployment, inequality and low levels of economic growth.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to exercise their constitutional duties in order to improve their lives and build a better society.

“To build the South Africa we want, we must make our voices heard on the laws and policies that affect us through public hearings and community meetings. We must be active citizens that support community-based organisations that are performing invaluable work in the places we live,” the President said on Monday.

He made these remarks during the 2022 Human Rights Day national event held at the Reagile Community Centre in Koster, North West.

The President called on citizens to hold those tasked with public office to account.

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A delegation from ACT Alliance  and the World Council of Churches (WCC) visited Hungary, Ukraine and Romania on 14-18 March, focusing on humanitarian needs and church response.

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World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca appealed for an immediate end to indiscriminate attacks with an escalating impact on civilians in Ukraine.

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While The following feature story is part of a series that begins this year’s Easter Initiative, which will offer a glimpse into the daily lives of Palestinians, Muslims and Christians, living in and around Jerusalem, some of the challenges they face, and what gives them hope.

The concept of sacredness underscores these stories. Below, Yacoub Rajabi’s story speaks to the sacredness of human dignity—and the sacredness of life itself.

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Photo: WCC

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could create a global food security crisis. It is disrupting agricultural production and trade from one of the world’s major exporting regions. This threatens to drive rising food prices still higher and create scarcity, especially for regions most dependent on exports from Russia and Ukraine.

Particularly affected is the Middle East and North Africa – or MENA – region. These Arab countries consume the highest wheat per capita, about 128 kg of wheat per capita, which is twice the world average. More than half of this comes from Russia and Ukraine.

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As calls mount to do away with the National State of Disaster, President Cyril Ramaphosa says new health regulations that are meant to replace the lockdown regulations have been published.

The President said public consultations with leaders from different sectors of society are underway and that he will address the nation on the process in the coming days.

The President said this when he responded to oral questions in the National Assembly on Thursday.

The Department of Health this week published the proposed health regulations to deal with COVID-19 and other notifiable medical conditions outside the National State of Disaster.

Government is calling for public comments to allow the public to have meaningful input into the decision-making process after it extended the National State of Disaster with another month.

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Photo: GCIS