Sunday, May 25, 2025

Nation

Cabinet reshuffle puts fizz in the sugary drinks tax fight

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By Sealy McMurrey

The Beverage Association of South Africa is hoping that the cabinet reshuffle will bolster its efforts to oppose government’s plans to tax sugary drinks.

Former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan proposed a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages‚ as part of government’s efforts to tackle obesity.

But during the budget meeting in February‚ the proposed implementation date of a sugar tax was shifted until later in 2017.

The beverage association‚ which represents the interests of the non-alcoholic beverage industry‚ is hoping to take advantage of Gordhan’s axing in favour of new Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba. Legislation to introduce the tax is yet to be finalised.

Speaking on behalf of the association‚ general manager for corporate services Tshepo Marumule said‚ “We have recognized the change in ministry and see it as an opportunity to take action forward against the tax”.

The cabinet reshuffle has fueled speculation about whether the sugar tax will still be implemented.

“Parliament convened on the taxation because in its current form‚ the tax is too complex and complicated and it can’t be proven that the tax will actually help South Africans’ health. We appreciate the further consultation on the tax and would like to see the best solution for the country‚” said Marumule.

The World Health Organization supports the imposition of a sugar tax. WHO South African representative Dr Rufaro Chatora said‚ “By implementing a tax on sugary drinks to increase the prices of these beverages‚ South Africa will be taking a proactive step to reduce the intake of sugars‚ which contribute to unhealthy weight gain and other diet-related NCDs [non-communicable diseases]‚ including diabetes”.

What lies ahead for the war on sweet beverages is uncertain but there appears to be some fizz left in the fight against taxing them.

– TMG Digital/The Times

Visit the published story here.

Thobani Ndlovu on being black and gay in South Africa

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By Sealy McMurrey

Thobani Ndlovu is a 27-year-old black gay man. Originally from a small rural town called Ndwedwe, Thobani came to Durban for university at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal where he still studies Gender and Sexuality. Thobani came to talk to SIT South Africa: Social and Political Transformation, where I first met him. The way Thobani talked about the context of race and sexuality and how they overlap in South Africa made me want to know more. As noted later in the interview, Thobani’s inflection in his voice is a little more obvious to passersby that he MAY be gay, being less deep and overbearing as stereotypical male voices sound.

Have you found a community and place where you feel comfortable?

It’s taken a while in Durban to find that community, but I have. I found that I couldn’t quite fit in because I didn’t identify with any of those things [top or bottom] so it was really, really hard for me to find people who understood me because I was always being forced to be one thing or the other. I’ve found that I was comfortable with my race… but they were homophobic so I was comfortable in other areas like… when we were talking about race and stuff they get it. But when we’re talking about things like sexuality or even sexism they didn’t get it. So I sort of had to build my own community and then stay within those confines because I found that every time I decide to venture out I’d come back hurt because of something [they said].

How has being black impacted your experience being gay and how has it impacted your role in the LGBTQ community?

They [other black people] say that black people don’t behave like that. It’s not a black thing to be gay so I always found that my sexuality allowed people to deny me my race, like I’m not black enough because I’m into guys… But in terms of the LGBTQ community, my sexuality and my race have kind of come together to allow me to see like the intersectional issues. The fact that it’s not just the fact that I’m black, it’s not just the fact that I’m gay, but these things make it very complex because I’m black… Then I’ve found that dating is also [hard]. I always thought that because you’re gay you understand being discriminated against. But if you go online on a site and then you chat with someone and if you don’t have your picture there then they ask you your race and then you’re like “I’m black” and they’re like “Oh sorry I’m not looking for blacks, just whites only.” Yeah that and the gender performance as well as the “No fats, no fems, no blacks”… And we don’t really get much mixing of races… I haven’t had friends that were dating outside of their race.

How has being gay impacted your experience in racial discrimination and the black community in general?

I used to lead by my sexuality first but then I realized that when I came out of Ndwedwe that even before a person can notice my sexuality or before I can pronounce my sexuality, they see my race. I’m treated in accordance to my race. In black communities you don’t want to be seen as weak. So you’ll try to… buff up and change how you walk. But when I’m in white spaces in the white community, you don’t want to be seen as threatening, as a danger, so you try to be less macho so it’s always something that I need to catch myself [doing] because it’s not something that I do consciously. Because sexuality was a thing that was most prominent. It forced me to speak about it because that’s what I’ve always lived with. But when I got out of it, there were other issues I also deal with. So it’s made me want to be more active and speak out more against race issues and stuff.

Have you noticed a rural and urban divide in how people treat you?

There’s this assumption though that the people in the rural areas are more homophobic than people in the cities. [But] nobody has ever heckled me in Ndwedwe. Nobody has ever verbally abused me when I was walking on the street, but it’s happened here in Durban. Generally, the assumption is that people are more homophobic in rural areas, but where I come from they are… more tolerant of it. Perhaps it’s because when you come to Durban, because it’s a bigger town and it’s within the city, people are more comfortable to express themselves. So maybe that’s why there’s such a strong pushback.

By not being a “Born-Free” (black South Africans born after Apartheid ended in 1994), what is the difference between the experience you’ve had in the LGBTQ community versus the experience of “Born-Frees” in the LGBTQ community?

Younger black males are more likely to come out earlier now because it’s legal. And that was [passed] after 1994. So whereas we were bombarded with “you shouldn’t do that, boys don’t do this, don’t act that way” and stuff, they probably didn’t get that as much. Or even with like the media, it’s showing more representations. Over the years we’ve had shows showing gay relationships which have been taboo in the past, so I definitely think that there is a difference. When I was in school I was trying to find participants for my research and I would ask them “So how do you feel about that?” And they’d be like “well that’s who he is, so there really isn’t any issue.” I actually had a lot of experiences where I would have thought that my friends would stick up for me but they didn’t because they are now associated with this guy that everyone either suspects or they’re sure that he’s gay so if they stick up for me, then they also stand a chance of being bullied as well. Whereas now, the kids when I talk to them they say “No! I stick up for him if this happens or if someone says this to him.” So yeah, I definitely think that there’s a difference, but there’s still a long way to go.

Hair Policy in South African Schools

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One of the earliest conversations I had with my homestay sister after arriving in Durban was around education. When I asked her what was one thing she would change about her school, without hesitation; she said the ‘hair code’.
In August of 2016 protests at the prestigious Pretoria Girls High School sparked a hashtag, #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh, that went viral, trending worldwide. The protests were in response to school’s the hair code, which states that students may not wear their hair in wide cornrows, braids, or dreadlocks.
Historically, Pretoria Girls was an all white school under the apartheid regime. It began admitting black students in the mid- 90s. In support of the hair code, some educators have argued that the hair dress code deters personal expression that may take the focus away from learning. However, while the hair code never explicitly singles out Afro- textured hair, it does not limit straight hair styles to such a degree and with such specific detail.
South Africa’s minister of arts and culture, Nathi Mthethwa, tweeted after the eruption of protests that, “Schools should not be used as a platform to discourage students from embracing their African identity” (NPR, http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/09/06/492417635/a-ban-on-black-hairstyles-raises-deeper-issues-about-race). Black students have also recounted experiences in which their teachers and peers described their dreadlocks as “bird’s nests”.
One student said natural hair was being criminalized, stating, “You’re in fear when you go to school because you know you will be policed,”(The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/31/south-african-students-speak-out-ban-afro-hair-pretoria-school).
#StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh hit home for many Americans, myself included, as issues of black beauty and empowerment have plagued our culture in the United States. The issue of wearing naturally Afro- textured hair in particular is one that has affected my confidence and feelings of self- worth for much of my life. I made the decision to come to South Africa to study in July of 2016. Seeing #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh on social media one month later prompted me to think about the ways in which racism continues to persist in South Africa. I remained curious to hear about the experiences of students at these newly desegregated schools.
Last week when I visited Durban Girls College, the faculty informed me that their hair code is currently under revision. It appears as though South African institutions may not be keeping up with the social transformations that the nation has undergone.
Despite the small victory of the students at Pretoria Girls, the girls at historically white schools still seem to be the ones who must assimilate into the preexisting culture of the school, as the schools are doing little to adapt to the changing demographics and social climates.

Political Correctness: United States vs. South Africa

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Hearing my Zulu homestay sister refer to the characters on soapies as, “the coloured girl” or “the Indian guy” was both freeing and refreshing. I witnessed the absence of political correctness after my first few days here. A feeling of liberation fell over me. My entire life I have been told to never refer to someone by their race or ethnicity. Of course in the closed confines of my black household we would talk about people and race, but my parents always made it clear to me that that kind of discourse did not leave our home. And aside from conversations I held with my black friends exclusively, that kind of talk never did leave my home. I would never dare make my white friends feel uncomfortable by talks of race and color. I am a minority in America. The thought of excluding others sickened me, and I swore by being politically correct. However, I sometimes felt like I was censoring myself by talking around race. I would watch my white friends do the same, dancing around saying, “that black kid in the class”, by instead resorting to, “that kid with the glasses”, and then I would ask, “Which one?”, leading them to make the dreadful decision of ending the dance and specifying the student’s race. As long as no one is being discriminated against or marginalized, describing someone by their ethnicity is fine. Nevertheless, the dance around color continues.
As a culture we’ve become afraid to offend, demonstrate prejudice, perpetuate stereotypes, and marginalize others. With our racial history in the United States, these fears of discriminating against others are understandable. They are especially real for those perceived to be in a position of power, namely white Americans. In order to avoid offense and embarrassment, many resort to practicing political correctness. Although political correctness can combat discrimination and exclusion, at times it can get in the way of the truth. The paradox is that we strive to be inclusive, while also valuing freedoms of speech and expression. The tension between the two is evident in America, however it appears to be less of an issue in South Africa. Although South Africa’s racial history is just as grave as that of the U.S., South Africans, especially blacks, seldom go out of their way to be what Americans would consider politically correct. Today, South Africa has developed a culture in which people are free to say what they mean without being reprimanded. Perhaps they’ve got it right. Although the bluntness may be uncomfortable for foreigners, South Africans don’t fear what they say. Still, the issue with political correctness in South Africa, or lack thereof, is the fine line between being honest, and causing offense. While they’ve got freedom of expression down pat, lack of political correctness in South Africa may be reinforcing stereotypes and marginalization that hinder progression in their changing culture.
Just as I thought I could get used to this PC- free society, I had a conversation with my homestay sister about Asian cuisine. Scarfing down the Thai food I’d order at the mall, I asked my sister if she wanted to try some. The face she made at me indicated she was not interested. I then asked her if she liked Chinese food, trying to make a connection to something more familiar, and she stated, “The only Chinese food I like is sushi”. After laughing out loud, I teased her, “Sushi is Japanese, not Chinese”, she looked back at me unamused and said, “Same thing”. While I know that her statement was not meant to be malicious, I couldn’t help the eerie feeling that came over me. This incident stuck with me, and it became clear to me that while political correctness can often censor what we mean, it can keep us in check with our ignorance. Benignly referring to someone by race is harmless, but it’s important to stick to social norms. For instance, when referring to a group of people, it is imperative to use the terms that the group has deemed fit. An article about political correctness from the Economist points to the example, “Coloured is a common term in South Africa for people of mixed race; it is not considered derogatory. Elsewhere it may be”. There needs to be a balance. Always being mindful is very important.
Freedom of expression is an essential aspect of any democracy. However, in a country with a bloody history that continues to deal with issues of reconciliation, practicing elements of political correctness is still necessary. While it may appear as though South Africans are free from political correctness, in reality, racial identity may be so embedded in society that people cannot escape it. The ‘Rainbow Nation’ has made great strides in becoming a country that belongs to all who live in it, but society still has a long way to go to reach inclusion.

Alexa Cole, SIT

The 2017 State of the Nation Address: A tale of South African — and American? — politics

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by Arin Kerstein

The events surrounding President Jacob Zuma’s 2017 State of the Nation Address on Thursday provided South Africans a viewing experience even more dramatic than Mzansi Magic’s “Isibaya” soap opera. This event was quite a spectacle, as Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Front (EFF) MPs — most notably from EFF leader Julius Malema — delayed Zuma’s speech with 78 minutes of interruptions and points of order, according to a Huffington Post recap. The evening turned quickly violent, with punches thrown during the removal of EFF members from Parliament on Thursday. This chaotic nature of the event continued with the illegal use of pepper spray onto members of the public.

While the evening’s events were initially surprising, delving into the motivations behind the spectacle provides an interesting view into the parallel nature of the current state of both South African and American politics. The apparent extreme levels of polarization across party lines seemed to permeate the event on Thursday, with MPs from the DA and EFF speaking out against Zuma and the ANC as a whole in a similar manner to the American Democratic party’s opposition to many of the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump at a time when political polarization in the United States is reaching unprecedented levels.

While the tactics within the RSA Parliament and US Congress may be a bit different, Malema’s removal on Thursday sparked an immediate connection to legislative theatrics in the United States such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) official silencing during the confirmation of Jeff Sessions as attorney general. The content of Zuma’s speech continued to mark many interesting parallels between contemporary political issues within our two nations ranging from racial income disparity to student debt and tuition assistance programs.

From this event, it is clear that the news of the nation will provide not only an interesting perspective into South Africa’s most pressing political and social issues but also into my own country.

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