Blog Archives | Page 8 of 9

Men talk GBV in Mpumalanga, and how they can be the change

By Nontshi Shange When discussing gender-based violence, it is important to consider masculinity. The toxic traits young boys learn on the road to becoming men, will ultimately affect women. This topic is often down-played when discussing gender-based violence and the onus is placed on women to keep themselves safe. However, at the Lydenberg Accountabili'tea discussion, the importance of educating boys on how to become men who will grow society and respect women, took center stage. The event was [...]

Men talk GBV in Mpumalanga, and how they can be the changeVerashni Pillay2021-01-28T18:47:00+00:00

Jocelin Flank fights for the next generation of firefighters

By Farai Savanhu “I am paying it forward. I am paving the way for someone to have it easier than I did.” This was the main theme of the discussion with 2018 Integrity Icon, Jocelin Flank. The passionate fire-fighter was in conversation with youth activist Pearl Pillay for the fourth installment of Accountability Lab South Africa’s, “Meet the Icon” sessions. The webinar took place on the 26th of November 2020. Join us this week Thurs at 5pm - 6pm for our next Meet the Icon webinar. Activist and [...]

Jocelin Flank fights for the next generation of firefightersVerashni Pillay2021-01-28T18:47:13+00:00

DEBATE: Should SA demolish provincial governments?

By Nontshisekelo Shange Local elections are scheduled to go ahead in 2021 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. There have been calls for the local government elections to be merged with the 2024 national elections due to safety concerns caused by the Coronavirus. The IEC has been in ongoing conversations with the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs with regards to possible dates. But merging these elections can cause issues for some municipalities that require effective change. B [...]

DEBATE: Should SA demolish provincial governments?Verashni Pillay2021-01-28T18:40:17+00:00

Youth politics… without the political parties: could it work?

By Nontshisekelo Shange South African politics is shifting. There now exists the potential for political players to leave behind larger parties without joining or forming another one. On 11 June 2020, the Constitutional Court declared the Electoral Act, 1998 unconstitutional to the extent that it prevents independent candidates from running for public office. This would allow political candidates to run for the presidency without having to be affiliated with a political party. This changes the f [...]

Youth politics… without the political parties: could it work?Verashni Pillay2021-01-28T18:40:31+00:00

Is voting enough?

By Nontshi Shange The Coronavirus pandemic has brought to light many of the cracks in South Africa’s governing systems. Although South Africa is no stranger to corruption, the looting of state funds, the failure to supply the community with food parcels, hand sanitizers, and face masks, have shown low-income communities that they can only rely on themselves during the pandemic. On 20 November 2020, the Clermont community was joined together by Shakespear Baleni, an Activator and community leade [...]

Is voting enough?Verashni Pillay2021-01-28T18:47:26+00:00

SA’s youth voice: Accounting for accountability

By Tsholanang Rapoo On Friday, 13 November Accountability Lab hosted their second Conversation Lab, on youth activism featuring panellists Shaeera Kalla, Kokoetso Moeti, and Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng. The panel was moderated by Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh. The discussion tackled topics such as inequality, youth unemployment and university activism. Koketso Moeti, Executive Director of amandla.mobi, warned against “rockstar activism”. “It is tempting when one is organising… to think that one’s self, [...]

SA’s youth voice: Accounting for accountabilityVerashni Pillay2021-01-28T18:47:43+00:00

A younger, intelligent global youth will “light the way”

From the 1976 Youth Uprising to #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall, the youth of South Africa has had a prominent voice in the advancing of South Africa’s young democracy. But more still needs to be done. By Aarti Bhana How can the youth continue to fight for equal rights and resources for all, government accountability and a stronger democracy? That was the topic up for discussion at Accountability Lab South Africa’s second Conversation Lab, in partnership with the Danish Embassy in South Africa [...]

A younger, intelligent global youth will “light the way”Sheena2021-01-28T18:40:58+00:00

Accountabili’tea’ on girls’ education

If education is the key to empowering young women, then what is being done in small communities to do just that for women and young girls? Whose responsibility is it? Community leader Ntombozuko Jafta has taken this task upon herself through her nonprofit organisation which works with educators and social workers in her Eastern Cape community. For her latest intervention, Jafta partnered with Accountability Lab South Africa to host an Accountabili’tea’ Conversation on expanding education and li [...]

Accountabili’tea’ on girls’ educationSheena2021-01-28T18:41:09+00:00

Conversation meets solutions in Warden

Aarti Bhana Unemployment. We know it's a problem in a country as unequal as South Africa, and there's no doubt that Covid-19 has made this issue worse. The country is currently sitting at an unemployment rate of 30.8%. It is among the highest in the world and while the government has made promises on how it plans to address it, communities across the country are taking the initiative to talk about joblessness and how to solve it. One such community is Warden in the Free State. In its sixth Acco [...]

Conversation meets solutions in WardenVerashni Pillay2021-01-28T18:48:01+00:00

True greatness: a lesson from two audiologists

"Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.” That powerful quote by Martin Luther King Jr has been a guiding light for Integrity Icon 2019 winner Sakhile Nkosi. The award-winning audiologist was in conversation with his friend and fellow audiologist, Vera-Genevey Hlayisi, for the second installment of Accountability Lab South Africa’s “Meet the Icon” sessions. The virtual meet-up took place on 17 September 2020 - right in the middle of He [...]

True greatness: a lesson from two audiologistsSheena2021-01-28T18:49:29+00:00