This week — Launch of report into killings of Abahlali baseMjondolo members, US presidential election discussion, and marking Women’s Day

On Tuesday, 6 August at 2.30pm, the Dullah Omar Institute will host a seminar with Professor Rod Uphoff from the University of Missouri, on his insights on American politics and the 2024 presidential election. He will also answer questions about Donald Trump’s legal cases.

“On 5 November 2024 American voters will go to the polls to elect a new president. After growing calls from senior Democrats, Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race and, at the time of writing, Kamala Harris seems to be the most likely candidate to step up to the plate as the Democratic Party’s candidate. Trump is perhaps one of the most divisive figures in American politics of recent years and US politics appear to be increasingly polarised,” the organisers say.

Trump’s “legal wranglings” had placed the integrity of candidates under the spotlight, while the Supreme Court’s July 2024 decision granting presidents immunity for all official acts “shifted the discourse into a different realm of constitutionalism”.

“Who wins the election in November will have implications for the entire world, including Africa and South Africa. Traditionally the Democrats have had a more sympathetic approach to Africa and South Africa. Should Donald Trump win the election it can be anticipated that US policy will be more disengaged with regards to Africa and South Africa.” 

Register here.

On Wednesday, 7 August at 10am, Amnesty International South Africa will launch its research report on the threats against, attacks on and killings of Abahlali baseMjondolo members. 

The launch will take place at the Women’s Jail, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg.

On Thursday, 8 August, at 12pm, Call to Action, a collective of organisations working on ending gender-based violence and femicide and building an autonomous feminist movement in South Africa, will host a workshop to discuss the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act. 

“This workshop is an important opportunity for us to delve deeper into the Act and discuss its implications. We will cover key aspects, including its current provisions, identified gaps, and why the act, in its current form, is not fit for purpose,” the organisers say. 

Register here.



Also on Thursday, join Wits Anthropology for the launch and discussion of Professor Makhosazana Xaba’s isiZulu translation of Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth.

Also on Thursday, the Southern Africa Political Economy Series Trust, will host a YouTube Live session on “Whither SADC”. The speakers include Ibbo Mandaza, Tony Reeler, Onalenna Selolwane and Brian Raftopoulos.

Friday 9 August is National Women’s Day.

On 9 August 1956, 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act. 

On that day a large group of women began a campaign to bring an end to the pass laws enforced by the government of the time. These laws meant all black people were to carry a special “pass” or identification document which they had to produce to prove they were permitted to enter a certain area designated for white people. This was a major law of the apartheid regime and greatly restricted the freedom of movement of black people. 

The march was led by Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, Rahima Moosa, Lilian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph. More than 100,000 signatures marked a number of petitions which were left with the prime minister at the time, JG Strijdom. After handing in these documents at his office they stood quietly outside for about 30 minutes. Soon the women began to sing a protest song, translated as “Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock”.

Statues of Rahima Moosa, Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn form the backdrop to a Women’s Day march at Lilian Ngoyi Square in Pretoria on 9 August 2017, marking 61 years since women marched on the Union Buildings to protest against the apartheid regime’s pass laws. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Thulani Mbele)