Opinion

LitNet contributors voice their opinions about current affairs.

South Africa’s greatest hotelier has checked out

Darryl David In memoriam 2025-04-16

"And having stayed in every Tuishuis in Market Street, I can tell you that no one – absolutely no one – could make a weathered old carpet look like a work of art on those sparkling Oregon pine floors as Sandra could."

Sandra Antrobus of Cradock: A tribute

Julienne du Toit, Chris Marais In memoriam 2025-04-15

"The restored streetscape of Die Tuishuise and Victoria Manor Hotel is Cradock’s most recognisable tourism and heritage asset, along with the Great Fish River, the Mountain Zebra National Park and the gorgeous Moederkerk. It would never have happened without the love and passion of a local farming couple, Sandra and her husband Michael."

Undoing villainy: Eastern Cape name changes

Mphuthumi Ntabeni LitNet25-skrywersberaad 2025-04-10

"If we mourn what needs to be mourned, we may find enough empathy to understand the legitimacy of calls for setting things in order that are based on natural justice. Only then, perhaps, we shall stop being angry with each other and begin healing from our historical traumas, and, per chance, even celebrate our history as part of our collective identity instead of as something that embarrasses us."

Human Rights Day 2025: mind your language! About language rights and recent developments at UCT

Naomi Meyer, Mphuthumi Ntabeni Menings 2025-03-20

"It is pertinent that UCT chose the month of March, when we celebrate Human Rights, to make this long overdue announcement about adding Xhosa as one of its official languages. Globally, throughout the United Nations, the protection of minor or native languages is an urgent human rights issue. South African indigenous languages are not minority but majority languages, yet they’re still suppressed, especially by the hegemonic preference for English."

Human Rights Day 2025: Human rights and the theatre

Naomi Meyer, Mike van Graan Opinion 2025-03-20

"But, as creatives, we should also be cognisant of who has access both to practise and to enjoy this right. Like with all other rights – healthcare, education, food, security, etc – it is those of us with resources, education and networks who are best able to enjoy these rights, as we have the capacity to pay for these to be delivered privately if government fails."

Press release: The budget points to a constitutional blind spot

Theo Venter Opinion 2025-03-14

"My view is that all the parties are aware of this constitutional dilemma and therefore have no choice but to work out a compromise on the budget to avoid the unthinkable."

“Wrong Fugard”

Anthony Akerman Books and writers 2025-03-10

"Athol was spending increasingly longer periods working away from South Africa, but he always returned home to write. He told me he couldn’t write anywhere else. He had to be at home."

China’s military in Africa: A growing threat

Fanie Herman Opinion 2025-03-07

"China is using military training exercises with African forces to enhance its expeditionary capabilities and geostrategic goals."

Breyten’s career as writer and public figure in South Africa: a brief overview

Francis Galloway Books and writers 2025-03-06

On Sunday, 23 February 2025, the life and work of Breyten Breytenbach – who passed away on 24 November 2024 – was celebrated at the Breytenbach Sentrum in Wellington. Herewith the text version of Francis Galloway’s talk as part of the event.

Conflict and chaos: The unending struggle for peace in the DRC

Paul Murray Opinion 2025-02-20

"The current fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a hugely complex issue, with roots going deep and, historically, going back a long way – thus being transhistorical."

Lisbon 1755 and Tulbagh 1969: a tale of two earthquakes

David Willers Opinion 2025-02-19

"The powerful 1969 earthquake that struck the Western Cape in South Africa caused widespread destruction, but also became a moment for the government to reinforce racial segregation under the guise of reconstruction. ... The rebuilding of Lisbon, on the other hand, represents one of the most significant Enlightenment-inspired urban projects of the 18th century."

Seen elsewhere: Impact of US funding cuts "hardly" a blow to SA arts and culture

Ismail Mahomed Elders gesien 2025-02-11

"For the arts and culture sector, Trump’s executive order might leave a small dent, but it is nothing that a good amount of panel-beating between South African and US institutions/organisations that hold shared values cannot navigate."

South Africa – and the world at large – will feel the impact of Trump’s climate change denial

Chris Heymans Opinion 2025-02-07

"By withdrawing the United States (US) from the global Paris Agreement, Trump is defying multilateral climate resilience cooperation, at a time when global average temperatures already exceed a critical 1,5°C warming threshold, and severe weather events are becoming more regular."

The folly of a South Korean nuclear weapon

Eben Coetzee Opinion 2025-02-06

"Throughout the Cold War, and through to today, the credibility of nuclear deterrence was and is attached to all manner and sorts of things: the personalities of leaders, their rationality, the regime type, and whether leaders believe in the doctrine of nuclear deterrence."

Remembering Auschwitz

David Willers Opinion 2025-02-05

"[I]n most cases, the causes and atrocities of the wars – Korea, Vietnam, numerous struggles for liberation across Africa and the Middle East, Latin America and a dozen other settings – have been brushed over or inadequately brought to light. South Africa stands out as an exception, with its Truth and Reconciliation Commission. But the truth of the lessons of Auschwitz holds true for a world in conflict since 1945, and makes the 80th commemoration all the more important."

Seen elsewhere: That includes you, my dear friend

Andre Vlok Elders gesien 2025-02-05

"Your chosen favourite can say or do no wrong, and anything, however outrageous or immoral, can be justified, condoned and, with every-day use and reinforcement, it becomes your new normal, the standard from which to judge The Other."

Twenty million people face death due to aid cuts

Izak de Vries Opinion 2025-02-05

"In simple English, even in cases where there are healthcare workers paid for by the government, medication cannot be handed out."

Fact-checking the fact-checkers

Ian Glenn Opinion 2025-01-30

"Logically, what is the justification for fact-checking – and then monitoring and censoring – Facebook or X or Instagram, but not WhatsApp?"

Remembering a revolutionary: the legacy of Frank Anthony

Moegammad Tahier Kara Opinion 2025-01-30

"Frank Anthony’s activism was not just a political endeavour; it was a deeply emotional and personal commitment to the pursuit of freedom and justice ... With each word penned in defiance, each poem recited in solidarity, Anthony poured his heart and soul into the struggle, knowing that the price of freedom was steep, but believing fervently in its worth."

Straight shot: Tembeka Ngcukaitobi about the Expropriation Act

Tembeka Ngcukaitobi Opinion 2025-01-27

"For property rights holders, nothing dangerous will come of it. For the landless, their aspirations have been deferred. Perhaps once again."

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