https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/issue/feedNew Agenda: South African Journal of Social and Economic Policy2024-01-04T08:09:42+00:00Prof Emeritus Ari Sitas (Editor-in-chief)newagenda01@gmail.comOpen Journal Systems<p>This is a policy journal analyzing social and economic issues in South Africa. We publish infomed articles by experts and decision makers. These articles are accessible to the ordinary reader.</p> <p>Other website associated with this journal: <a href="https://ifaaza.org/new-agenda-main/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://ifaaza.org/new-agenda-main/</a></p> <p>To submit an article to New Agenda for consideration by the editorial collective please register on our digital portal at <a href="https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/newagenda/about/submissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/newagenda/about/submissions</a> and click on 'Make a Submission'.</p>https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261737The black sonic gestures toward just planetary futures in Africa2024-01-04T07:08:39+00:00Mpho Ndabanewagenda01@gmail.comRachael Nyirongonewagenda01@gmail.com<p>No abstract.</p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261738Climate imperialism: How can the rest of the world respond? 2024-01-04T07:11:38+00:00Jayati Ghoshnewagenda01@gmail.com<p>No abstract.</p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261739Europe’s quest for energy fuels green colonialism in Africa2024-01-04T07:13:47+00:00Roland Ngamnewagenda01@gmail.com<p>Dr Roland Ngam is programme manager for climate justice and socioecological transformation at the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Southern Africa, where he coordinates the climate blog ClimateJusticeCentral. Before that, he was a postdoctoral research fellow in the Emancipatory Futures Studies Programme at the University of the Witwatersrand.</p> <p><em>As Europe ends its economic ties to Putin’s Russia, it has been pouring billions of dollars into Africa to urgently develop new energy infrastructure. African governments and elites have seized this opportunity, but these investments have failed to drive development aimed at the poor. ROLAND NGAM argues that “green colonialism“ must give way to new democratic infrastructure projects that benefit local populations.</em></p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261740Africa Climate Summit promised a lot but in the end delivered very little2024-01-04T07:22:47+00:00Roland Ngamnewagenda01@gmail.com<p><em>When all was said and done, the first ever Africa Climate Summit was all about money, money and more money, asserts ROLAND NGAM, who was there and who came away with constructive ideas of what could have been done differently – and how it should be done next time around.</em></p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261741Voluntary carbon markets: Slow violence for indigenous communities in the Global South?2024-01-04T07:35:40+00:00Liz Mwanginewagenda01@gmail.com<p>Liz Mwangi is doing an MPhil in Environmental Humanities at the University of Cape Town. In that capacity she is associated with Environmental Humanities South (EHS).</p> <p><em>At the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, held in Nairobi in September 2023, discussions about carbon trading dominated many conversations. Kenyan President William Ruto said Africa’s carbon sinks provide an “unparalleled economic goldmine” and called for “a new way of doing business.” Many commentators, however, believe the real winners in the carbon trading markets are the financial brokers in the developed countries who operate these controversial global markets. LIZ MWANGI elaborates on this perspective.</em></p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261742Eskom and energy: Large-scale renewables programme the only way to keep the lights on2024-01-04T07:37:48+00:00Mark Swillingnewagenda01@gmail.com<p>Professor Mark Swilling is Distinguished Professor of Sustainable Development and Co-Director of the Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST). He is a member of the International Resource Panel, fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, a member of the Board of the Development Bank of Southern Africa since 2014 and Chairperson of the Board from January 2019–September 2019 and from November 2021 to the present. He was appointed by President Ramaphosa as a Commissioner on the National Planning Commission.</p> <p><em>Taking account of current actual empirical conditions and the balance of power in South Africa, MARK SWILLING traces the prolonged discursive process through which South Africa arrived at its – precarious and contested – decision in favour of a largescale renewables build programme. This article is based on a paper presented in July at a panel discussion on ‘What constitutes a progressive perspective on our energy crisis?” organised by the Progressive Citizenship Initiative.</em></p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261743The rise, fall and rise of Eskom2024-01-04T07:40:14+00:00Roland Ngamnewagenda01@gmail.com<p><em>There are a number of important debates going on right now about energy production in South Africa. The biggest one of course concerns load shedding and the debilitating power outages that have increased over the past years. Then of course there is the just energy transition debate to end South Africa’s reliance on dirty fossil fuels, notably coal. ROLAND NGAM ask why are these debates important and which pathways should South Africa follow?</em></p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261744African women bear the brunt of climate change 2024-01-04T07:46:05+00:00Rachael Nyirongonewagenda01@gmail.com<p>Rachael Nyirongo is Research Services Manager at the Institute for African Alternatives, and is currently leading the Young Climate Voices Project. She has a background in law with a Masters of Laws in International Law and Human Rights Law. She has a keen interest in climate justice and environmental law.</p> <p><em>Eco-feminists believe that the exploitation of nature and the oppression of women by patriarchal power structures ‘must be examined together or neither can be confronted fully’ (Hobgood- Oster, 2002: 1). RACHAEL NYIRONGO analyses how gender inequalities in Africa impact climate change and exacerbate oppression of women on the continent.</em></p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261745Madagascar: Where inflation, climate change and cyclones collide2024-01-04T07:47:48+00:00Ny Hasina Andriantsehenomamonjynewagenda01@gmail.com<p>Ny Hasina Andriantsehenomamonjy is a journalist, researcher and human rights and climate activist based in Madagascar. She is also the coordinator of Dis Moi Madagascar, which stands for Droits Humain Océan Indien (Human Rights Indian Ocean).</p> <p><em>In this study of the impact of climate change on the people of Madagascar NY HASINA ANDRIANTSEHENOMAMONJY explains how the climatic conditions that have severely affected countries in the region have dramatically impoverished the rice farming Malagasy, driving them into debt traps which unscrupulous money lenders and avaricious property developers have taken full advantage of. Below, she proposes possible solutions to the country’s key economic and climate challenges.</em></p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261746Unearthing the human dimension of climate change: The reflections of an analytical environmental chemist2024-01-04T07:50:10+00:00Cecilia Ojemayenewagenda01@gmail.com<p>Cecilia Ojemaye is a postdoctoral research fellow based at Environmental Humanities South (EHS) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Her transdisciplinary research, which cuts across the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences, focuses on the contamination of water, the risk this poses to people and the environment, and how this has been exacerbated by climate change. She obtained her BSc in chemistry from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria and has a PhD from the University of the Western Cape (UWC).</p> <p><em>The pressing issues of climate change and environmental contamination are inextricably linked to social science and humanities, writes CECILIA OJEMAYE. She explains how at first this was a world she found herself lost in, but at the same time intrigued by the way scholars in these disciplines think and try to connect different issues. It is through these interactions that she gained a better understanding of the human dimension of these crises.</em></p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261750Democracy only works if Parliament works 2024-01-04T07:59:27+00:00Moira Levynewagenda01@gmail.comMartin Nicolnewagenda01@gmail.com<p>Martin Nicol, former trade unionist, then trade ambassador for a democratic SA, is editor of <em>New Agenda</em>, the flagship publication of the Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA). Moira Levy is its Production Editor, IFAA’s Media Manager and the project leader of Decode.</p> <p><em>IFAA recently held a colloquium on ‘Democracy can only work if Parliament works – South Africa after Zondo,’ which was addressed by Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Raymond Zondo, former President of the Republic Kgalema Motlanthe and Rivonia Circle Director of Programmes Tessa Dooms.</em></p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261751Here’s what young people think of the state of democracy in SA and what they plan to do about it: Voting is just the first step2024-01-04T08:01:28+00:00Editornewagenda01@gmail.com<p><em>First-time voters participated in a Decode workshop titled ‘Our Vote is our Voice’, but they argued voting on its own won’t be enough; real change will be achieved only through communities coming together to speak with one collective voice.</em></p>2024-01-05T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261752Another milestone reached: Partnership with ISD sealed2024-01-04T08:03:38+00:00Editornewagenda01@gmail.com<p>No abstract.</p>2024-01-05T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261753Dateline Africa 2024-01-04T08:05:07+00:00Editornewagenda01@gmail.com<p>No abstract.</p>2024-01-05T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261748Stunted - Panopticism and embedded neoliberalism in African states’ food & agriculture policies and the struggle to end Hunger on the continent2024-01-04T07:55:03+00:00Rachael Nyirongonewagenda01@gmail.com<p>No abstract.</p>2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/261749These Potatoes Look Like Humans - The Contested Future of Land, Home and Death in South Africa 2024-01-04T07:56:44+00:00Mpho Ndabanewagenda01@gmail.com<p>No abstract.</p>2024-02-08T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024