 |
Civil society unit at risk: Cosatu joins fight to save the University of KwaZulu-Natal's centre devoted to social justice |
 |
 |
Will CCS be closed by University of KwaZulu-Natal authorities?
Civil society unit at risk: Cosatu joins fight to save the University of KwaZulu-Natal's centre devoted to social justice
By Maureen Isaacson (Sunday Independent)10 August 2008
South Africa's first Centre for Civil Society (CCS) at the University of
KwaZulu-Natal may be forced to close its doors because of political
pressure. With it will go the jobs of 12 black staff and the prestige it
has brought to the university.
The centre has developed a profile for its leftwing views which did not
sit easily with the university management. This week, Patrick Bond, the
director of the CCS, said that he had been pressured to make more of a
home for rightwing academic scholarship.
But Bond appointed Dennis Brutus, a well-known leftwing activist and
writer, as honorary professor.
Now Cosatu has joined in the fray, calling on the university to keep its
hands off the CCS.
It issued a statement saying it hoped "the university administrators
will realise their mistake and support this valuable institution".
The university's reason for its imminent closure, inadequate funding,
"is paltry and possibly spurious", said Cosatu. "If there is a genuine
problem of finding funds for the unit, the government must step in to
fund this important institution."
Bond said that the centre had funds to carry it through the next two
years. "It is not unusual for academic research in institutions to be
conducted with 'soft money' - money which has to be continually raised."
At Cosatu House on Friday, Bond had come to present to the federation's
central executive committee research that he is conducting with
colleagues at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health on the costing of
Cosatu's national health insurance strategy.
Dominic Tweedie, the editor of The Shop Steward, Cosatu's journal, said:
"When CCS was a political nuisance to Cosatu, harassing us from the
left, its existence was no problem to the powers that be. I am not
saying that Cosatu has jumped into bed totally with CCS, but we are
talking."
It is, after all, the job of the centre to generate knowledge by
observing contests for power.
CCS claims to push for socioeconomic and environmental justice, which
happens "by developing critical knowledge about, for and in dialogue
with civil society".
Such a push is unlikely to come from rightwing scholars. Tweedie said
that the command was prescriptive. "Telling people which scholars to
include in their organisations has nothing to do with academic freedom.
You have to be able to accommodate people who make you feel
uncomfortable, whatever else are universities for?"
If CCS goes, the monthly Harold Wolpe debates, the seminar series,
conferences and workshops and the transfer of experience from
communities to academics could go, too.
The CCS was launched in 2001 by Adam Habib, a political scientist. Bond
began his tenure as director, on October 1 2004. His contract with CCS,
originally set for three years, was extended while the review of the
centre was conducted.
"In early 2007, I said that, when my directorship ended, I ideally
wanted to be replaced by an African - who can bring us into new areas.
The university slogan is 'Premier University of African Scholarship'.
And already we do a lot on the continent, including working against
xenophobia."
Bond, who has tenure as a professor at the university and who will not
lose his job, says this closure, which would put 12 black people out of
work, is "disastrous for race, class and gender. It is a hit to our
diversity and equity programme".
The university's latest review of the centre, completed in February,
pointed to flaws in the CCS, such as teaching - which it said should be
taken more seriously, even as a subsidiary activity. However, it said
CCS was "the leading academic-based centre in Africa devoted to
citizen's initiatives for social/environmental justice". Strengthen the
centre and give it more autonomy, it said.
The CCS links activism with academia, publishing its rigorous research
in peer-reviewed academic journals. "It would be foolish of the
university to lose the contributions made by Bond to its research
profile," said the review.
While the pressure against left-wing academics at the University of
KwaZulu-Natal has been building, so has resistance. Bond says the
imminent closure of the centre, and its integration in a new form into
the School of Development Studies is not unique. Ashwin Desai, the
radical academic was fired, banned and barred from the university after
leading the 1996 strike against its corporatisation.
Although the banning was lifted in 2003, Malegapuru Makgoba, the
vice-chancellor, again banned Desai in 2005. This was protested by
leading international academics, including Noam Chomsky. Makgoba said
Chomsky was suffering from "dementia".
Now Makgoba will have Cosatu to deal with. He was not willing to comment
on the CCS matter on Friday.
Anger at UKZN plan to shut unit
By Fred Kockott (Sunday Tribune)10 August 2008
UNIVERSITY of KwaZulu-Natal management has evoked the wrath of the
intellectual left, worldwide, and Cosatu, over moves to close down a
feisty, vibrant research unit, the Centre for Civil Society.
The centre is a voice for leftist thinkers - from anarchists to
socialists, black nationalists to social democrats.
Now its appears UKZN management is backtracking. It said on Friday a
decision on closure of the CCS had not been made, but "recommendations"
to integrate the CCS into the school of development studies were "under
discussion".
This follows CCS staff going public with a formal appeal against a
management announcement that it had decided to close down the centre.
CCS director, Patrick Bond, said he and his staff were summoned to a
meeting last week and advised the centre was being closed at the end of
the year. All CCS staff contracts, besides Bond's, would be terminated
as of December. Bond said the reason - that long-term financial
viability of CCS was not secure - was a red herring.
"With our healthy reserve and incoming funding commitments for core
staff for 2009-10, there is no financial basis for closing us," said
Bond in the appeal supported by other UKZN research units, peers at Yale
University in the United States, Oxford University in Britain, and
Cosatu leadership.
"Hands off the CCS," was the message this week to UKZN management from
Cosatu's national spokesman, Patrick Craven, who described it as a world
leader in researching socio-economic and environmental justice issues.
Craven said inadequate funding appeared to be a "possibly spurious
reason" for closing the centre. "If there is a genuine problem of
finding funds, the government must step in to fund this important
institution," he said.
Yale University's Prof Immanuel Wallerstein, a world renowned
sociologist, wrote a letter to UKZN communications head, Dasarath
Chetty, this week, stating that he was "appalled to learn of the
imminent closure of the CCS".
"This," said Wallerstein, "would not only damage severely UKZN's
reputation but set back research worldwide on contemporary South Africa.
"The single most prestigious activity of the UKZN, as seen from a United
States vantage-point, is the CCS.
"Those of us who try to follow what is going on in South Africa have
come to rely upon the centre," said Wallerstein.
Similar messages from eminent peers at UKZN and around the world
continue to be posted on the CCS website, which also carries a formal
University Review of CCS carried out between September last year and
February this year.
The review says: "Through its international recognition and standing,
CCS has put UKZN on a world map in social science, a position the
University dare not risk to lose."
"So why close the unit?" was the question Bond and his colleagues were
grappling with this week.
"The announcement came out of the blue. It makes it very difficult to
comprehend. All follow-up discussions have only left us more confused."
Bond said closure would result in the services of one white man
(himself) being retained, and the firing of more than a dozen black and
female staff.
"This is a repudiation of the UKZN's commitment to employment equity."
Bond said UKZN vice-chancellor, Prof Malegapuru Makgoba, disapproved of
some of the centre's work, going as far as banning "UKZN's best-known
scholar, Ashwin Desai" who had worked at CCS.
"The vice-chancellor also has an unusual view of politics. He once
suggested we inject more right wing views," said Bond.
"That's an antithesis of what the centre is about. It's like asking the
Business School to hire Marxist scholars."
Makgoba's office declined to comment on the future of the unit,
referring queries to deputy vice-chancellor and head of humanities and
development studies, Prof Fikile Mazibuko; the dean of humanities, Prof
Donal McCracken; and head of the school of development studies, Prof
Vishnu Padayachee.
Backtracking
These queries in turn were referred to the UKZN's public affairs
department which issued a statement saying that a final decision had not
been taken, but that the future of the unit was "under discussion".
Bond said this was clearly a backtracking tactic in the wake of the
public furore around the move to close down the unit.
Bond said he was interested to know who was having discussions about the
future of the centre, as he and his staff were completely in the dark as
to what was going on, and had not even received acknowledgement of their
official appeal.
Like Cosatu, Dr Timothy Quinlan, research director, UKZN health
economics and Aids research division, said the funding argument was
flawed. "Our division does not have funding in perpetuity, nor does the
medical school's flagship HIV/Aids project, Caprisa, or a host of other
units.
"There is need for clarity from UKZN management as to why this threat
was made - because it is absurd," he said.
Cosatu said it hoped that "university administrators who want to close
the CCS will realise their mistake."
www.sundaytribune.co.za
Note on the status of CCS within the University of KwaZulu-Natal
On 30 July, the staff of CCS and our host institution, the School of
Development Studies (SDS), were summoned by Dean Donal McCracken, and
told that as of 31 December 2008, CCS would be permanently closed, that
Professor Patrick Bond (CCS director since October 2004) would resume
his tenured chair within SDS, and that the other CCS staff - all on
contract - would be terminated, with CCS's "good" projects moved to SDS.
CCS staff are unanimous that this decision should be reconsidered, and
the following letter of appeal was sent within hours to Dean McCracken. As of 1 August, no reply was received, and with word now out about the proposed closure, we deem this necessary to publicise on the CCS website. Our objective is to retain the Centre as it now operates, and indeed to strengthen and make CCS more autonomous (as recommended in the official UKZN Review of our activities on 29 February 2008). We appreciate the solidarity of colleagues, communities, donors and supporters, and your comments - supportive and critical alike - will be published on this website.
please send to pbond@mail.ngo.za
Centre for Civil Society report on 2007 activities
CCS UKZN Review 29 February 2008
30 July 2008
Vishnu Padayachee, head of the School of Development Studies
Dear Vishnu,
I was disappointed to be left out of the loop on discussions about the
future of the Centre for Civil Society, especially over the last crucial
two-week period. Not having had a chance to talk to any of the
principals between 29 February and July 16, in spite of repeated
requests, has made the authorities' decision to propose closing CCS very
difficult to comprehend. A few minutes' time with Prof McCracken on July
16, and repeated (ignored) requests for follow-up discussions only leave
me more confused about whether this decision has been made on financial
grounds, as suggested, or some other basis.
As you advised, Centre staff met and decided that without a compelling
reason given by Prof McCracken to buttress Prof Mazibuko's
recommendation that CCS be closed at the end of 2008, we would want very
much to immediately appeal this recommendation.
The only reason given at today's staff meeting was that the long-term
financial viability of CCS was not secure, i.e. that we do not have
permanent funding in perpetuity. But that argument applies to many other
projects, centres and other UKZN entities, and we have communicated to
Prof McCracken that there is no problem in guaranteeing core jobs and
many of our projects into 2009-10.
The formal University Review of CCS carried out between September
2007-February 2008 suggested that CCS be strengthened. The Review made
this specific comment on closure:
"Possible Options
(1) Closing down or removing CCS from UKZN does not appear to be an
option as it was rejected by all interviewees and panel members. Through
its international recognition and standing, CCS has put UKZN on a world
map in social science, a position the University dare not risk to lose."
We believe that CCS contributes to the stated goals of the university
(see below) as much as any other research unit, and likewise that our
portfolio of funded research projects, our per capita publications
output, the frequency of our academic seminar schedule (usually
two/week), the numerous (free) events open to the community (most with
translation), our role in local and national public intellectual
debates, and the recognition/partnerships we have with other
internationally recognised academic and research institutions would rank
us at the top of UKZN.
We also believe that with our healthy reserve and the incoming funding
commitments for core staff for 2009-10, there is no financial basis for
closing CCS; indeed, we have been a generous net financier of the
university since 2001, and have formally purchased our office space.
The race/gender implications of the decision to close CCS would be to
retain one white male and fire more than a dozen black and female
contract workers (and one other white male).
If we might use your good office to get an urgent meeting with both
Professors Mazibuko and Jacobs, we would be grateful. I will cancel my
Nairobi trip to the Africa Jubilee South launch next week, as well. In
the meantime, we will alert our colleagues and funders of this appeal,
as the proposed closure of CCS has now been publicly announced and we
must not be in a position to lose the confidence of our communities and
society.
Thanks,
Patrick
VISION
To be the premier university of African scholarship.
MISSION
A truly South African university that is academically excellent,
innovative in research, critically engaged with society and
demographically representative, redressing the disadvantages, inequities
and imbalances of the past.
PRINCIPLES AND CORE VALUES
The University commits itself to the principles and values enshrined in
the constitution of the Republic of South African and articulated in the
preamble to the Higher Education Act of 1997 (as amended).
GOALS
The goals of the University are to:
Promote access to learning that will expand educational and
employment opportunities for the historically disadvantaged, and support
social transformation and redress.
Create and develop an enabling environment for all learners and
scholars to pursue their studies in accordance with the principles of
academic freedom.
Advance knowledge and culture through globally competitive
teaching, learning, scholarship and research, innovation and scientific
investigation.
Foster a capacity for independent critical thinking, free
engagement in fundamental discovery and a reappraisal and extension of
traditional views of the world amongst students and staff.
Support and contribute, across the academic enterprise, to
national and regional development, and the welfare and upliftment of the
wider community.
Provide holistic education which promotes an awareness of social
responsibility and sound ethical practice in a diverse society.
Promote and foster tolerance and respect for multilingualism,
diverse cultures and social values.
Promote excellence in teaching and learning through creative and
innovative curriculum design and development, pedagogical strategies and
assessment practices in accordance with sound quality assurance principles.
Strengthen the institution through local and international
collaboration, exchanges and partnerships with the private sector and
higher education institutions in teaching, research and development
enterprises.
Conserve the physical environment, and foster a culture of
responsible, ethical, sustainable use of natural resources.
Increase opportunities for lifelong learning in response to the
educational, social, political, scientific and economic challenges of
our time.
Equip graduates to serve as future leaders of the nation.
Ensure effective governance through democratic representation,
accountability, and transparency.
Promote the social and personal well-being of staff and students,
and foster the realization of their full human potential.
The University views this vision and mission statement as a
reflection of its core values and commitments. In carrying out its
various activities, the University seeks to contribute to the building
of a just South African society.
05 August 2008
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor
College of Humanities
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Howard College Campus
Dear Prof Mazibuko
CLOSURE OF THE CENTRE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY (CCS)
At a meeting on 30 July 2008, we were informed by the Dean, Professor
McCracken, that the University has decided to close the CCS. Professor
McCracken informed us that this decision has been taken on financial
grounds i.e. because the CCS did not have a secure and permanent stream
of funding.
We considered this matter at our School Board of 4 August where we
supported the CCS's resolution to appeal the University's decision. This
was a consensus view of our School Board and I was asked to write to you.
Specifically we would like to raise two issues. First, this decision
seems to be at odds with the findings of the Review Committee, which was
asked to consider the future of the CCS. Our reading of the report of
the Committee is that closure is not recommended. Second, our
understanding is that the CCS is now able to secure its financial future
for at least another two years. As far as we know, research centres of
this sort are not expected to secure their financial futures in
perpetuity. We can therefore only conclude that the University has
other, more academically sound, reasons for the decision.
We would like therefore to invite you to address us on the reasons
informing the decision to close the CCS.
Yours sincerely
Imraan Valodia
For the Board of Studies, School of Development Studies
The following members of the SDS Board were present at the meeting:
Richard Ballard
Patrick Bond
Sufian Bukurura
Daniela Casale
Richard Devey
Ntsiki Manzini
Nompu Nzimande
Vishnu Padayachee
Dori Posel
Eleanor Preston-Whyte
Glen Robbins
Caroline Skinner
Mary Smith
|
|
|
 |
Events Index 2010 |
 |
Trevor Ngwane at Marxism 2010 conference, Melbourne, 1-4 April  |
|
Patrick Bond on water commons, Syracuse University, 29-30 March |
|
CCS anti‑xenophobia research workshop, 27 February |
|
Climate Justice Now! SA‑KZN chapter hosted at CCS, 13 February |
|
Patrick Bond paper for Socialist Register workshop, 6 February |
|
Susan Galleymore Seminar: A Dearth of Imagination Leads to Wasting Perfectly Good Waste, 5 February |
|
Durban Sings Follow-up and planning session with 8 Editorial Collectives, 4 February |
|
Patrick Bond on climate change & Dennis Brutus Memorial at World Social Forum, Porto Alegre, 28 January |
|
Rehana Dada & Patrick Bond Seminar: Copenhagen Climate and Eskom Energy Conflicts, 26 January |
|
Dennis Brutus tribute, with Social Movements Indaba and Durban community groups, 23 January |
|
Peter McKenzie & Doung Jahangeer Seminar: The Saharawi,Warwick Junction and Footsak Politics, 20 January |
|
Patrick Bond debates NHI at Idasa, CT, 19 January |
|
CCS cohosts Climate Justice Now! on electricity hearings strategy, 15 January |
|
Events Index 2009 |
|
Patrick Bond at SF protest against Danish repression of civil society and Copenhagen climate 'deal', and radio interview, 18 December |
|
Patrick Bond addresses climate seminar at Univ of Lund Business School, 15 December |
|
Kristine Wasrud Participation and Influence in Water Policy in Durban, South Africa, 11 December |
|
Climate Justice Film Festival, 10 December |
|
Umesh de Silva Seminar: Traditional farming in Umzinyathi, 9 December |
|
Oliver Meth at the CCS Workshop on women & child abuse Cato Crest Library, 8 December |
|
Patrick Bond at Roskilde Univ Civil Society Centre, 7 December |
|
Patrick Bond keynotes Leeds 'Democratisation in Africa' conference, 4 December |
|
Sinegugu Zukulu & John Clarke Seminar: Resilience, Resolarisation and Relocalisation, 30 November |
|
Nick Smith Seminar Politics of protection/crime/policing, 26 November |
|
Patrick Bond speaks at Mandela Foundation about SA economic disasters, 26 November |
|
Seminar on outsourced and contract workers at UKZN, 24 November |
|
3rd Climate Justice Now! KZN meeting, 20 November |
|
CCS and Durban Sings! at the Global Crisis and Africa: Struggles for Alternatives hosted by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation; Randburg, Johannesburg 19-21 November |
|
MAKE SOME NOISE! Concert 6 November |
|
Immanuel Wallerstein Wolpe Lecture: Crisis of the Capitalist System Where to from Here?, 5 November |
|
The Crises and the Commons: Durban debates on politics, economics and environment 4-7 November |
|
Solidarity with Durban's oppressed: Bottom-up resistance strategies of shackdwellers, pollution victims and labour-brokered workers, 4 November |
|
Faith Manzi & Oliver Meth at the Gender Based Violence Workshop, Durban 27 & 28 October |
|
Seminar on Problems faced by UKZN workers, Westville campus, 28 October |
|
Bengt Brülde & Stellan Vinthagenand Seminar: Ethics, Resistance and Global Justice, 26 October |
|
Baruti Amisi, Trevor Ngwane & Patrick Bond Anti-Xenophobia research project with Strategy&Tactics 19- 20 October |
|
Durban Sings (Molefi Ndlovu & Claudia Wegener) at National Oral History Conference, 13-16 October |
|
Tri-Continental Film Festival Durban community screenings – (hosted by Oliver Meth) at Inanda, Chatsworth, Wentworth, CBD, & Folweni, 1-12 October |
|
Patrick Bond lectures at Suffolk Univ, Boston, 29 Sept-2 Oct |
|
Patrick Bond Booklaunch: Climate Change, Carbon Trading & Civil Society, 18 September |
|
Dennis Brutus honored by War Resisters League, 18 September |
|
Helen McCue Seminar: Grassroots Mobilising within Refugee Communities: Perspectives on Palestine and Australia, 18 September |
|
Patrick Bond skypecast on climate and ecological debt to Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke, Copenhagen, 16 September |
|
Oliver Meth People to People International Documentary Conference, 10-12 September |
|
Dick Forslund & Patrick Bond Seminar: South Africa's capitalist crisis and civil society, 7 September |
|
Dudu Khumalo on the Durban public transport crisis, 1 September |
|
Patrick Bond National Health Insurance: Can SA afford it?, 24 August |
|
John Berg Seminar: Barack Obama's presidency and civil society reactions, 24 August |
|
Norman Finkelstein Wolpe Lecture: Resolving the Israel-Palestine Conflict: What we can learn from Gandhi, 20 August |
|
Seminar with outsourced workers at UKZN, 12 August |
|
Patrick Bond debates Sampie Terreblanche (Stellenbosch), 6 August, UCT |
|
Dr Essop Pahad Thinking about the Legacy of Mbeki's Politics, 4 August |
|
Patrick Bond addresses Ecuador eco-finance conference (videolink), 4 August |
|
Patrick Bond at the South African Civil Society Energy Caucus Meeting, 29-30 July |
|
Barak Hoffman Seminar: Democracy and Civil Society Research in Ghana and SA, 27 July |
|
CCS hosts free screenings of Durban International Film Festival, 25 July - 1 August |
|
Sean Flynn & Maj Fiil Seminar on water rights, ( SKYPECAST ) 24 July |
|
Patrick Bond lecture at carbon trading conference, Johannesburg, 22 July |
|
Sein Win Seminar by Burmese prime minister (exiled) on solidarity (SKYPECAST), 21 July |
|
Tunde Adegbola A Pan-African Harold Wolpe Lecture & cultural events, 16 July |
|
Patrick Bond lecture on SA Political Economy, San Francisco socialist conference, 4 July |
|
Orlean Naidoo on participation at DDP seminar, 30 June |
|
Patrick Bond speaks on 'World Slump: Financial Crisis and Emerging Class Struggles in the Global South', 28 June, Toronto |
|
Patrick Bond on African social resistance to economic crisis, 26 June, Moscow |
|
Oliver Meth and Orlean Naidoo facilitate Diakonia Council of Churches Democracy Course, 24 -26 June |
|
Alex Callinicos Wolpe Lecture: Economic crisis and prospects for social revolution, 18 June |
|
Blair Rutherford Seminar: Zimbabwe farm labour, social justice and citizenship, 17 June |
|
Trevor Ngwane Seminar: Community resistance to energy privatisation and ecological degradation, 11 June |
|
DURBAN SINGS central editorial workshops, 8 & 22 June |
|
Gaby Bikombo, Judy Mulqueeny, Harry Ramlal, Caroline Skinner Seminar: War of Warwick Junction, 9 June |
|
Patrick Bond, Abedian, Dumisa, Maharaj et al on 'Zumanomics', UKZN Biz School, 3 June |
|
Rehana Dada keynote address to Southern African Faith Communities' Environment Institute AGM, 2 June |
|
Patrick Bond on African underdevelopment at Sussex IDS conference (via skypecast), 1 June |
|
Trevor Ngwane presents at the International Conference on Ideas and Strategies in the Alterglobalisation Movement, Seoul, 29 May |
|
Peter McKenzie cultural seminar on 'Footsak: On the Ball for 2010', 28 May |
|
Björn Surborg Seminar: Contesting Johannesburg's extractive industries, 25 May |
|
Paul Verryn, Methodist Bishop of Johannesburg: Wolpe Lecture: Poverty and xenophobia, 21 May |
|
Robert Jensen, Univ of Texas: Seminar: Whiteness and social change in the US, 21 May |
|
Tony Clarke, Polaris Institute: Seminar: The state of the world water wars, 15 May |
|
Molefi Ndlovu, Seminar: Azania Rising: The demise of the 1652 class project, 13 May |
|
Patrick Bond debates 'The G20 Global Deal' at Wits/Osisa, Johannesburg, 12 May |
|
Rehana Dada, Seminar: Climate mitigation case studies, 11 May |
|
CCS/DYFS - Anti-xenophobia film screening facilitators workshop, 9 May |
|
Orlean Naidoo, Seminar: Chatsworth upgrading struggles and victories, 8 May |
|
Patrick Bond, Joburg Wolpe Lecture at Wits Univ, 7 May |
|
Patrick Bond at Cosatu electricity workshop, Joburg, 6 May |
|
Joan Canela and Helena Olcina Seminar: Social movements in Bolivia and Catalan, 5 May |
|
William Gumede Wolpe Lecture: SA’s “Democracy Gap”, 30 April |
|
Three representatives of the Tamil liberation movement youth Seminar: The Tamil people under seige, 21 April |
|
Leading eco-social spokespersons from political parties and civil society Seminar: Environmental confrontations - Political parties meet civil society, POSTPONED |
|
Rehana Dada at York Univ climate ecojustice conference, Toronto, 16-17 April |
|
Dennis Brutus celebrations, honorary doctorates conferred at both Rhodes Univ and Mandela Univ, 16-17 April |
|
John Minto Seminar: The Legacy of Anti-apartheid Sports Boycotts, 16 April |
|
Nelson Muhirwa & Jean Chrisostome Kanamugire Seminar: The Rwandan Genocide 15 Years On, 8 April |
|
Oliver Meth Seminar: Wentworth Crime, Gangs and Civil Society, 7 April |
|
Ida Susser booklaunch, 'AIDS, Sex and Culture', with Quarraisha Abdool Karim, at Ike's Books, 2 April |
|
Dennis Brutus on Reconciliation and Memory in Post-Apartheid SA, Nelson Mandela Foundation, Johannesburg, 2-3 April |
|
Sofie Hellberg Seminar: Governing lives through hydropolitics in eThekwini , 1 April 2009 |
|
Claudia Wegener & Molefi Mafereka Ndlovu Digital Soiree Durban Sings Internet Radio project, 24 March |
|
Simone Claar Seminar: Post-Apartheid Political Economy and State Policy, 19 March |
|
Oliver Meth presents at the HSRC Violent Crime and Democratization in the Global South Conference, 18-20 March |
|
Simphiwe Nojiyeza Seminar: African Development Bank water projects, 12 March |
|
Deniz Kellecioglu Seminar: Zimbabwe Civil Society confronts Mugabe's Economy, 11 March |
|
Patrick Bond debates ANC economic policy, 9 March, Durban |
|
Kalinca Copello Seminar: ICTs and social movements: From Chiapas to Brazil to South Africa, 6 March |
|
Lisa Ramsay & Schwarzanne Leafe Seminar & Film: Climate Change and Eco-Social Resistance in South Durban, 27 February |
|
Patrick Bond presents to ActionAid/Nepad conference on global financial crisis, 24 February, Midrand |
|
Molefi Ndlovu Johannesburg: Market Photo Workshop, 22-28 February |
|
Orlean Naidoo & Patrick Bond seminar on Free Basic Water, and screening of Flow, 18 February |
|
Ida Susser Seminar: AIDS, Sex, Culture and Civil Society, 11 February |
|
Dennis Brutus and Moya Atkinson film/seminar on US anti-war movement, 9 February |
|
Patrick Bond seminar on the ongoing global financial crisis, University of Johannesburg, 6 February |
|
Durban Sings internet audio and community radio with Molefi Ndlovu and Claudia Wegener, 2-6 February |
|
Patrick Bond in dialogue with Jeremy Cronin on financial crisis, Johannesburg, 28 January |
|
Dennis Brutus, Lubna Nadvi, Monica Rorvik and Salim Vally Seminar: Should Israel be boycotted? If so, how?, 27 January |
|
Giyani Dube, Lubna Nadvi, Kate Griffiths and Timothy Rukombo Wolpe Lecture: Civil Society Internationalism - from Lindela to Gaza to Washington, 22 January |
|
Pamela Ngwenya, Molefi Ndlovu, Claudia Wegener Seminar: Participatory community audio/video as a tool for social research, 21 January |
|
Dale McKinley, Orlean Naidoo, Dudu Khumalo, Bryan Ashe Seminar on the World Water Forum, 19 January |
 |
Mavuso Dingani film/seminar on the Zimbabwean exile in Durban, 6 January |
|
