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After being diagnosed with HIV at 33, retired Constitutional Court justice Edwin Cameron never thought he’d make it to 40. He’s now 73 and part of a generation that is growing older thanks to antiretrovirals and, he says, the activism that made sure it was available in South Africa. Photo: Stefan Els
AIDS
Video

HIV made him expect to die at 40. At 73, Edwin Cameron asks: Who’s planning for our ageing survivors?

At 33, the retired Constitutional Court justice thought he had, maybe, seven years left. His story traces the arc from certain death because of Aids to a chronic, manageable…

  • Tanya Pampalone
  • Mia Malan
14 min read
What’s driving anti-immigrant healthcare blockades? Sharon Ekambaram from Lawyers for Human Rights says it’s everything from the sky-high cost of Zimbabwean passports and corruption to South Africa’s institutionalised xenophobia — and a growing global intolerance of migrants. (Bhekisisa team)
ASYLUM SEEKERS
Video

Court orders government, police to block vigilantes from two clinics — and put up warnings at entrances

The judgment complements a November ruling meant to stop groups such as Operation Dudula from blocking foreign nationals from entering government hospitals and clinics and…

  • Tanya Pampalone
  • Mia Malan
  • Anna-Maria van Niekerk
  • Jessica Pitchford
  • Thatego Mashabela
8 min read
Members of Operation Dudula prevented people from other African countries from using South African health facilities. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy/M&G
2026 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

ActionSA pushes for constitutional change as Operation Dudula  targets migrants at clinics

The Human Rights Commission and legal experts say the Constitution, the National Health Act, the UN Refugee Convention and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights…

  • Mandisa Makgakga
4 min read
ACCESSIBLE FORMATS

Disability rights: Ramaphosa’s delay on Copyright Amendment Bill angers Blind SA

Blind SA has criticised the president for missing the signing deadline, which is impacting access to accessible formats for the visually impaired

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read
Struggle: Schoolchildren often cannot go to school when roads and buildings have been damaged. Photo: Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images
ANGIE MOTSHEKGA

Report: Schools unprepared for climate crisis

Learners have been adversely affected by damage to schools from extreme weather events such as floods

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
Ministers will assess progress since the Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX 2024) commitment to end learning poverty within a decade, alongside the declarations from last year’s Continental Conference on Education in Mauritania. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
DA

Ramaphosa unlikely to sign Bela bill into law before new administration is in place

The Democratic Alliance has objected to amendments in the Basic Education Law Amendment Bill, saying that it takes power away from parents, and gives it to the government

  • Umamah Bakharia
6 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the SANDF deployment in his 12 February State of the Nation Address.
HEALTH

SANDF reinstates employee after HIV discrimination

The defence force only re-employed the woman after being threatened with litigation This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail…

  • Umamah Bakharia
1 min read
Pit latrines in Govan Mbeki municipality. A four year old child’s body was found in a pit latrine. (Photo: Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE

Department misses its target for eliminating pit latrines at schools

However, minister Angie Motshekga says the department is fast tracking the improvement of infrastructure at schools

  • Mandisa Ndlovu
5 min read
File photo: Madelene Cronjé/M&G
BASIL MANUEL

Corporal punishment in rural schools is ‘big challenge’ for South African Council of Educators

The council received 169 corporal punishment complaints in 2020-21

  • Eunice Masson
5 min read
Gauteng schools feel the pressure to place more than 700 000 primary and secondary school pupils.
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

Section27 takes council of educators to court over corporal punishment

Two learners were hit over the head by two teachers, but they continue to work

  • Eunice Masson
2 min read
(Paul Botes/M&G)
AFRICAN CLIMATE ALLIANCE

Climate change a ‘collective trauma of potentially epic proportions’ for South Africa

The effects of global warming are negatively affecting mental well-being and will only accelerate in the future, according to a new report

  • Sheree Bega
4 min read
There are several aspects of the National Health Insurance Bill that still need to be thrashed out before it is implemented
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE

​Three key components of the NHI Bill that need to change

Have a say in the future health system of South Africa

  • Sasha Stevenson
7 min read
Sir: Testosterone injections have changed Germain de Larch’s life. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CARL COLLISON

Hormone drug shortage forces desperate solutions

Depo-Testosterone has been out of stock since December last year, possibly increasing the risk of serious physical and mental health problems

  • Carl Collison
4 min read
In its court papers the department undertook to have drafted a revised learner transport policy by December 2018, which would include provision for learners with disabilities. (Graphic: John McCann/M&G)
DISABILITIES

Children with disabilities left behind by learner transport policy

The KwaZulu-Natal education department in particular has done little to fulfil its constitutional obligations

  • Daniel Mclaren
8 min read
Discussions with local colleagues in paediatrics revealed how a single video or instant message with false information was enough to dissuade parents from believing in medical therapies, writes the author. (Madelene Cronje/M&G)
COSATU

‘Teachers’ right to strike must be protected’ – Section27

The advocacy group contends that teaching should not be deemed an essential service

  • Sarah Smit
3 min read
Jacob Rapudi
LIMPOPO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Section27 calls for end to #EndTreeSchools in Limpopo

The poor state of Makangwane Secondary School’s infrastructure came to a head in January, when a corrugated iron roof blew off

  • Sarah Smit
3 min read
Both Section27 and Sonke Gender Justice released statements saying they would revise their sexual harassment policies
EQUAL EDUCATION

NGOs tighten up on sexual harassment policies

Organisations in the sector have vowed to review their policies on sexual misconduct

  • Rumana Akoob
1 min read
(David Harrison/M&G)
ANGIE MOTSHEKGA

No relief for the Komape family

The judge dismissed their R2-million claim for constitutional damages, saying justice would be better served if all pupils had safe toilets

  • Bongekile Macupe
9 min read
Michael Komape’s sister said the family has not found closure because no one had explained what really happened on the day he died.
LIMPOPO EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Michael Komape’s school needed new toilets over a decade ago

Former principal of Mahlodumela Primary School told the court that she made repeated requests for new toilets for the school from as far back as 2004.

  • Bongekile Macupe
3 min read
May 1996: Members of the Constitutional Assembly. The signing of the Constitution ushered in a new era of constitutional democracy.
CONSTITUTION

New South African identity must emerge

Nuanced debates are needed to have meaningful conversations about South Africa, 20 years into our democracy.

  • Serjeant At The
  • Bar Author
5 min read