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Zambia has set a precedent as the first African country to form a national alliance of informal sector workers. The alliance aims to strengthen the voice of workers in the informal economy, to unite and engage with policy makers at all levels of government. The informal economy has grown tremendously in the past few years. In Southern Africa, women make up the majority of this sector – 60%-80%.

Adopted at the Founding Conference of the Federation of South African Women Johannesburg, 17 April 1954(1)

Salim Vally argues that the struggle around education provision must be located within the deepening poverty within the working class.

With the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, Nina Benjamin and Bernadette Johnson show how the Charter has often been used to impose ANC politics on educational struggles.

Johanne Themba Sompane argues that the promise of free and equal education for all after 1994 was utopia because of the capitalist neo-liberal policies adopted by the new government which disadvantage the poor and the academically challenged.

Thabang Mphuti, Tankiso Tamane & Ntokozo Mthembu argue that education should be made free for the poor for therein lies their true liberation.

This article by Grace Moeketsi and Tshepo Nkosi addresses education problems including high fees and corporal punishment and the issues surrounding this.