scholarly journals From Demonic Faith to Redemptive Faith: The Ambiguity of Faith in the Intersection of Religion and State Violence

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 268
Author(s):  
Wonchul Shin
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
State Violence ◽  
The State ◽  
People Of Color ◽  
The South ◽  
Key Features ◽  
Religion And State

This paper aims to examine the ambiguity of faith in the intersection of religion and state violence. I pay attention to the state-operated system of apartheid in South Africa and critically analyze the Afrikaner community’s faith that motivated and justified vicious state violence against people of color. I name this faith demonic faith and present two key features of demonic faith in the South African case: idolatrous absolutization and destructive dehumanization. I also examine how the Afrikaners’ demonic faith came to its existence through the complex dynamics of their existential anxieties, desires, and distorted ways to fulfill the desires. I then argue for the ineffaceable possibility of redemptive faith, and theoretically construct how two features of redemptive faith, consisting of courage and empathy, could have empowered the Afrikaners to break the shackles of demonic idolatry and destruction. Redemptive faith is tragically paired with demonic faith, but truth serves as a key criterion to guide us in this tragic ambiguity of faith.

scholarly journals Developing evaluation standards and assessing evaluation quality

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Leslie ◽  
Nishendra Moodley ◽  
Ian Goldman ◽  
Christel Jacob ◽  
Donna Podems ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Quality Assessment ◽  
South African ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
The State ◽  
Routine Activity ◽  
The South ◽  
Evaluation Standards ◽  
Evaluation Practice ◽  
Quality Assessments

The article explains the rationale for the development of standards for evaluation practice, the process followed in developing those standards, and how those standards inform the quality assessment of evaluations. Quality assessment of evaluations are conducted as a routine activity of the South African National Evaluation System (NES). The importance of quality assessment for improving the state of evaluation practice in South Africa is illustrated by presenting results from the quality assessments undertaken to date. The paper concludes by discussing the progress on the development of a public Evaluations Repository to manage and provide access to completed evaluations and their quality assessment results, and offering some concluding analytical remarks.

scholarly journals PROPOSALS REGARDING A WEAPON REVIEW PROCESS IN SOUTH AFRICA (PART 1)

Obiter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Charles Moorhouse ◽  
David Abrahams
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
International Law ◽  
South African ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Review Process ◽  
The State ◽  
The South ◽  
Customary International Law ◽  
National Implementation ◽  
The Subject

The purpose of this article is to put forward submissions regarding the implementation of a weapons review process in compliance of South Africa’s obligations under Additional Protocol I (hereinafter “API”) Article 36. Article 36 requires each state party to determine whether the employment of any new weapon, means or method of warfare that it studies, develops, acquires or adopts would, insome or all circumstances, be prohibited by international law. Article 36 does not specify how such a legal review should be implemented or conducted. Thus this article puts forward proposals regarding both the substantive and procedural aspectsof a review of the legality of weapons, means and methods of warfare that the authors submit best befits the South African context.A background regarding the legal limitations placed upon the use of certain weapons, means and methods of warfare and an explanation of South Africa’s obligations regarding national implementation of a weapons review process, is given in paragraph 1 so as to create an understanding as to why it is necessary for the Republic of South Africa to implement a process to review the legality of weapons, means and methods of warfare. Before the implementation of a weapons review process can be discussed, the subject matter of such a review must first be ascertained. Thus paragraph 2 contains a discussion regarding the definition of the term “weapons, means and methods of warfare” and a determination of which weapons shall form the subject matter of legal reviews. No specific manner of implementation is contained within API and thus it is at the discretion of the state in question, in this case South Africa, to adopt the necessary measures to implement this obligation. In this regard, paragraph 3 contains submissions regarding the status of the review body within the state hierarchy and its method of establishment. This paragraph also contains an explanation of the process by which South Africa acquires its weapons. The legal scope of the review process is dealt with in paragraph 4. Within thisparagraph, the place of both treaty-based law and customary international law (“CIL”) in the South African legal system is discussed. Furthermore, the treaty-law and customary international law rules binding upon South Africa regarding limitations of specific weapons and general weapons limitations are enumerated and the paragraph ends with a discussion of the Martens Clause. 

Bibliographical Progress in South Africa 1967-1968

1969 ◽  
Vol 12 (03) ◽  
pp. 305-314
Author(s):  
Reuben Musiker
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
The State ◽  
The South ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Interim Period

This is a two-year survey of bibliographical work completed in the Republic of South Africa. Recent developments in current and retrospective national bibliography are outlined. The South African National Bibliography has been mechanised and good progress has been made with the retrospective volume for 1926-1958. Attention is drawn to the State Library's work on the documentation of banned books. Catalogues of important collections completed are briefly described, and recent developments in the field of periodical lists and indexes are outlined. Special attention is paid in the review to Africana indexes and bibliographies. The author concludes that despite lacunae which remain to be filled, the bibliographical scene in South Africa is satisfactory and full of promise. This review, like its forerunner covers a two-year period and is based on information derived from a questionnaire sent to the major libraries of South Africa. The interim period has also been covered to some extent by a number of informal bibliographical progress reports published in the South African Library Association Newsletter.

scholarly journals The SACC since 1994: Ecumenism in Democratic South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Michael Womack ◽  
Jerry Pillay
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
The State ◽  
The South ◽  
South African Council ◽  
Prophetic Voice ◽  
History Of ◽  
Three Stages

Prior to 1994, the South African Council of Churches (SACC) was a major role-player both globally and within South Africa, fulfilling a vital role in the struggle for justice in South Africa. Yet, since 1994 the SACC has all but disappeared from both the global as well as the popular South African ecumenical scene. The history of the SACC since 1994 is relatively unknown and sparsely documented. This article attempts to fill in some of that missing detail and to explore what has happened to the SACC since 1994. Working predominantly from news articles and documents from the SACC, the authors have endeavoured to piece together the state of the SACC since 1994. This article shows how the SACC emerged from the brink of closure and has once more started to function as a prophetic voice in South Africa. This movement from almost extinction to a rejuvenated function has been designated into three stages, namely survival, discernment and regeneration. However, the challenges are not over and this article concludes by highlighting two main challenges that the SACC is currently facing.

Financial Oversight of the Civilian Intelligence Services in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandy Africa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
The State ◽  
The South ◽  
Standing Committee ◽  
Financial Accountability ◽  
State Security ◽  
Intelligence Services ◽  
Auditor General ◽  
Financial Oversight

The article assesses the state of oversight of the budget and expenditure of the South African civilian intelligence services (now called the State Security Agency). The roles of various structures, including the National Treasury, the Executive, the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) and the Auditor-General, during the period 1995 to 2014, are examined. The article argues that whilst the system of financial oversight has strengths, there are systemic weaknesses which have resulted in uneven levels of financial accountability over the years. The article therefore proposes that measures to strengthen the system of oversight are needed to improve financial accountability. These include reforming the relevant legislation and providing more robust powers to the oversight actors.

Does South Africa stand accused of paying lip service towards protection of children from violent behavior?

2021 ◽  
pp. 156-158
Author(s):  
Bellita Banda Chitsamatanga
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Constitutional Law ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Electronic Media ◽  
The State ◽  
The South ◽  
Violence Against Children ◽  
Extant Literature ◽  
Forms Of Violence

Tapping on International and regional law, the South African constitutional law places an obligation on the state and other duty-bearers to protect every child from violence. However, the extant literature and electronic media is awash with cases of violence against children which remains high in South Africa. This review gives a synopsis of why South Africa stands accused of paying lip service towards the protection of children from different forms of violence. Keywords:

Uncertainties within South Africa’s goal of universal access to electricity by 2012

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Bekker ◽  
C.T. Gaunt ◽  
A. Eberhard ◽  
A. Marquard
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Strategic Planning ◽  
South African ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
The State ◽  
Published Data ◽  
The South ◽  
Accurate Knowledge

The South African President in 2004 stated the pol-icy goal of universal access to electricity by 2012. This goal requires a significant adjustment of annu-al connection targets and electrification budgets, based on accurate knowledge of the number of electrified and non-electrified households in South Africa. Published data on the state of electrification, however, varies widely, with reported proportions of households electrified in 2005 varying from 57% to 80%. In addition, apparent discrepancies of tens of thousands of connections exist between annual new connection rates reported in different official publi-cations. Different definitions of Universal Access fur-ther impact strategic planning. This paper explores these uncertainties in relation to South Africa’s goal of Universal Access by 2012 by focusing on the availability and accuracy of South African electrifi-cation data, and the definitions, targets and electrifi-cation budgets associated with Universal Access.

Steve Biko and the Black Consciousness Movement

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Anne Hadfield
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
White Supremacy ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
The State ◽  
African National Congress ◽  
Black Consciousness ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
The South ◽  
Black Consciousness Movement

The Black Consciousness movement of South Africa instigated a social, cultural, and political awakening in the country in the 1970s. By the mid-1960s, major anti-apartheid organizations in South Africa such as the African National Congress and Pan-Africanist Congress had been virtually silenced by government repression. In 1969, Steve Biko and other black students frustrated with white leadership in multi-racial student organizations formed an exclusively black association. Out of the South African Students’ Organization (SASO) came what was termed Black Consciousness. This philosophy redefined “black” as an inclusive, positive identity and taught that black South Africans could make meaningful change in their society if “conscientized” or awakened to their self-worth and the need for activism. The movement emboldened youth, contributed to the development of Black Theology and cultural movements, and led to the formation of new community and political organizations such as the Black Community Programs organization and the Black People’s Convention. Articulate and charismatic, Steve Biko was one of the movement’s foremost instigators and prolific writers. When the South African government understood the threat Black Consciousness posed to apartheid, it worked to silence the movement and its leaders. Biko was banished to his home district in the Eastern Cape, where he continued to build community development programs and have a strong political influence. His death at the hands of security police in September 1977 revealed the brutality of South African security forces and the extent to which the state would go to maintain white supremacy. After Biko’s death, the state declared Black Consciousness–related organizations illegal. Activists formed the Azanian People’s Organization (AZAPO) in 1978 to carry on Black Consciousness ideals, though the movement in general waned after Biko’s death. Since then, Biko has loomed over the history of the Black Consciousness movement as a powerful icon and celebrated hero while others have looked to Black Consciousness in forging a new black future for South Africa.

scholarly journals Taking stock of the last 20 years: Responses to organised crime in a democratic South Africa

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalil Goga
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
African State ◽  
Organised Crime ◽  
The State ◽  
The South ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Consciousness ◽  
State Responses ◽  
Insight Into

Following the end of apartheid, the South African state has faced a number of challenges. One of these has been the growing spectre of organised crime, which has weighed heavily on the public consciousness. The narrative has been one of organised crime, which is becoming increasingly sophisticated and dangerous, pitted against a weakening and ill-equipped state. This article seeks to give insight into the legal and institutional measures taken by the South African state over the last 20 years. It focuses on direct state responses to organised crime, primarily changes to legislation and enforcement structures. It finds that although the state has been active in changing legislation to combat organised crime, it has often been its own worst enemy where enforcement is concerned, and has consequently lost some important tools in the fight against organised crime.

scholarly journals The South African labour movement

Tempo Social ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-136
Author(s):  
Bridget Kenny
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
The State ◽  
The Political ◽  
The South ◽  
Labour Movement ◽  
Political Dynamics ◽  
Union Renewal

This paper reviews the state of the South African labour movement. It discusses trade unions within the context of national political dynamics, including the Tripartite Alliance and neoliberalism, as well as growing precarianization of work within South Africa. It examines splits within the major federation and explores debates around union renewal and new worker organizations. It argues that the political terrain is fragmented and shifting, but workers’ collective labour politics abides.

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