Resilience in the Limpopo Basin : The potential role of the transboundary Raotswa aquifer - Final draft

As complementary report of the baseline report, this report focus on the hydrogeological assessment of the Ramotswa Transboundary Aquifer and covers only aspects related to the biophysical conditions of the aquifer which is a karstic dolomit aquife straddling the international border between Botswana and South Africa. The assessment is based on existing data and field data collected (including Airborne Electro-Magnetic survey) during the period September 2015 –November 2016. The technical knowledge developed in the report will be used as based for developing tools for harmonized management and fostering crossborder dialogue in order to help building the joint Strategic Action Programme which will provide, not exclusively, guidelines for better monitoring and future assessment of the aquifer

A contradictory class location?: the African corporate middle class and the burden of race in South Africa

The existing literature on the changing nature of workplaces in South Africa either ignores the role played by the emerging layer of black managers, or views them as essentially conservative or as 'sell-outs'. This article problematises this perspective in two ways. First, through Eric Olin Wright's notion of 'a contradictory class location'. The author shows that a new middle class social status and power in the workplace is complicated by popular notions of how class and race intersect, both among fellow managers and how they are viewed by the primarily black workforces. Second, the author shows that the class position of the emerging African corporate middle class is closely linked to the communities that they come from and is influenced by decisions they make in relation to this. By considering how these managers experience living in the 'suburbs', we can better understand their contradictory class location and how this relates to issues of race and class. Based on 21 in-depth interviews with African managers in a range of industries, this exploratory study shows that far from just being conservative 'sell-outs', the emerging African corporate middle class has constantly to negotiate and re-negotiate its role and identity. It shows that they make different choices which are often informed by their social background. Those who come from a middle-class background tend to cut ties with their former communities, while those who come from working class and trade union backgrounds tend to maintain links with their communities. Indeed, some of these managers still see themselves as being part of the working class.

Affirmative action and cosmopolitan citizenship in South Africa

This chapter looks at the policies and assess views, as expressed by key stakeholders, on the impact of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) (No. 55 of 1998) within the labour market. The chapter shows that there is little evidence to suggest that the impact of the EEA undermines the inclusion of the white minority in a creation of cosmopolitan citizenship in South Africa.

A contradictory class location?: the African corporate middle class and the burden of race in South Africa

The author shows that a new middle class social status and power in the workplace is complicated by popular notions of how class and race intersect, both among fellow managers and how they are viewed by the primarily black workforces. Second, the author shows that the class position of the emerging African corporate middle class is closely linked to the communities that they come from and is influenced by decisions they make in relation to this. By considering how these managers experience living in the 'suburbs', we can better understand their contradictory class location and how this relates to issues of race and class. Based on 21 in-depth interviews with African managers in a range of industries, this exploratory study shows that far from just being conservative 'sell-outs', the emerging African corporate middle class has constantly to negotiate and re-negotiate its role and identity. It shows that they make different choices which are often informed by their social background. Those who come from a middle-class background tend to cut ties with their former communities, while those who come from working class and trade union backgrounds tend to maintain links with their communities. Indeed, some of these managers still see themselves as being part of the working class

Employment equity: can it produce a representative workforce

The call by the minister of finance, Trevor Manuel, to review Back Economic Empowerment (BEE) has fuelled similar calls from organisations such as the Democratic Alliance, Solidarity, the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Freedom Front Plus. The author asks what elements of BEE and Affirmative Action need to be reviewed.

From formal to informal migrant labour system: the impact of the changing nature of the migrant labour system on mining communities in Lesotho and Mozambique

Paper presented at the XIV SASA Congress, Stellenbosch University, 7-10 Jul

Ex-mineworkers in communities: an exploratory study of livelihood strategies in mining communities for MDA's intervention in Eastern Cape, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique

Paper presented at a conference on 18 Februar

DPLG knowledge products draft recommendations

Commissioned by DPLG, Jul

DPLG knowledge products assessment draft report

Commissioned by DPLG, MayThis report contains an assessment of key knowledge products within the ODA (Official Development Assistance) database. The report contains a critical review of these products, which examines the strenghts and limitations of these reports. From these reviews, the report also identifies best-practices