Ms Bridget Masango (DA)

bridge

How did you become involved in politics and what drew you to your specific party? Having grown up in rural KZN, witnessing and experiencing challenges that were a direct result of the politics of the day, I developed a curious interest in making any contribution I could. I did not ...

Freedom Week 2016: Stand for your Right to Organise!

freedom

Against the backdrop of deepening inequality, political upheaval, social instability and rising repression, the Right2Know campaign will again mark “Freedom Week” – 27 April (Freedom Day), 1 May (May Day) and 3 May (World Press Freedom Day) – in recognition of the struggles and victories that people across South Africa ...

The Week Ahead: All about #budget2016 and some legislating

Finance Minister Pravin Gordan's budget speech on Wednesday will dominate the headlines this week. The Minister has a tough job to do as he seeks to address significant social challenges and reassure investors about the country’s growth prospects.

During the 2015 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement Speech, the former ...

Right to Know (R2K) - Media Transformation Summit 2015

r2k

Right2Know will be hosting Media Transformation Summits in:

  • Cape Town: Saturday 21 November, 10h00 – 15h00, Society for the Blind, Salt River Rd, Salt River
  • Durban: Saturday 28 November, 10h00 – 15h00, Venue TBC
  • Johannesburg: Saturday 5 December, 10h00 – 15h00, Venue TBC

As inequality deepens and social cohesion falters ...

Corruption and political party funding

By Matthew Kruger

Corruption and political party funding: Debating the means to a desirable end

Political questions rarely have easy answers. Even when we agree that a particular goal is desirable - end corruption, for example - we often disagree over the appropriate means to that end. Here I consider ...

Representation: can we question the legitimacy of parliament?

By Raymond Suttner

In its opening words, phrased as a declaration and making known to all, the Freedom Charter embraces a claim to popular sovereignty and democratic rule, in the name of the people of South Africa. It immediately attacks the legitimacy of apartheid South Africa and simultaneously calls for ...

The Week Ahead: Executive scrutiny & legislative action

There's both high policy and low politics on display in the main chambers this week. The National Assembly offers a blend of members' statements, a discussion of national importance, legislative business and oral questions to the Deputy President and Peace and Security Cluster. The programme is a bit more pedestrian ...

Constituency system is no cure for our voting shortfalls

By Mosotho Moepya

Over the past few months, we have witnessed a resurgence of debate and discussion about the appropriateness of SA’s electoral system. Commentators, academics and politicians have asked whether the proportional representation system is relevant, effective and appropriate 20 years into our democracy.

Those questioning the effectiveness of ...

The Week ahead: Legislation & budget debates dominate

This is a week for detailed law-making, with issues ranging from maintenance, to freedom of expression, to land expropriation, to trade union accountability and decriminalising consensual sex between children of certain ages.

Beyond this, the legislature’s budget vote season doesn’t show any sign of slowing down as most days are ...

Ms Phumzile van Damme - DA

P Van Damme

Political background: Growing up, I was involved in politics in one form or another. My earliest memory of political activity was leading a strike in Grade 5 because our teacher would not allow us to go out for break.

At university I majored in Political Science and Law, and the ...