http://www.ddp.org.za Political forums are aimed at creating a platform for dialogue and debate between leaders, experts, academic and civil society. These debates seek to advocate accountability and public participation. daily 1 2010-04-19T11:42:50Z http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/public-forum-climate-change-and-cop-17 The forum on 20 September 2011 was co-hosted by Imagine Durban and DDP, on the topic of climate change. No publisher Sarah 2011-09-28T12:40:30Z Page http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/flipside-conversation-stop-crime-say-hello DDP and Justin Foxton of Stop Crime, Say Hello held a Flipside Conversation at Corner Cafe, Glenwood on 24 August 2011 No publisher Sarah 2011-08-29T08:48:23Z Page http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/no-subject-is-taboo On 28 July 2011, DDP was honoured to host Dr Devi Rajab and the launch of her latest book – No Subject is Taboo. No publisher Sarah 2011-08-11T10:36:55Z Page http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/public-forum-consumer-protection-act DDP invited Wendy Knowler to discuss the implications of the Consumer Protection Act. No publisher Sarah 2011-06-13T08:24:35Z Page http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/city-budget-breakfast-briefing-we-have-a-right-2-know-about-our-city-budget-are-we-as-citizens-playing-our-role 18 March 2011-DDP partnered with the Diakonia Council of Churches to host a Breakfast Briefing Session on the topic of municipal spending in eThekwini, particularly in the light of recent media reports on irregular and unauthorised spending. Dr Michael Sutcliffe, eThekwini municipality City Manager, and Mr Krish Kumar, Chief Financial Officer, attended on behalf of the City Council. Dr Sutcliffe presented the draft 2011/2012 budget for the city. No publisher Manju 2011-05-20T07:21:19Z Page http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/seminar-what-is-the-future-of-south-africa-development-or-decline 30 November 2010, Southern Sun, Elangeni - Bearing in mind the wide ranging concerns around the state of our nation, the Democracy Development Programme (DDP) hosted a one day seminar discussion, led by three of the editors and key contributors to the first volume of the New South African Review –viz Professors John Daniel, Roger Southall and Devan Pillay. The New South African Review: Development of Decline (Wits University Press 2010” addresses a number of major socio-political and economic issues confronting contemporary South Africa. The text poses the provocative question of whether SA is embarking upon a long-term developmental decline and engages with some of the challenges confronting the state – including issues around the economy, service delivery, in-migration, and the state of the ANC and the public service. Each of the editors addressed sections that they had edited. This was followed by input from respondents (Prof Cheryl Potgieter, Kiru Naidoo and Prof Pearl Sithole). Thereafter a discussion ensued. No publisher Manju 2010-12-13T09:48:25Z Page http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/forum-successes-and-failures-of-cosatu-lessons-from-the-recent-public-service-sector 28 October 2010, Southern Sun, Elangeni - DDP hosted a public forum that critically analyzed the evolution of COSATU during the pre and post 1994 period. The forum also reflected on the lessons that were learnt during the recent public sector strike that saw a number of people, including babies dying in public hospitals. No publisher Manju 2010-11-30T08:31:31Z Folder http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/public-forum-media-freedom-under-threat 16 September 2010, Diakonia, Durban - The ANC in preparation for its NGC released a discussion document that proposed the establishment of a Media Appeals Tribunal and Minister Cwele of State security also tabled a Protection of Information Bill, known as Secrecy Bill in Parliament. The Right2Know campaign by civil society groups is a direct response to the Secrecy Bill in protection of the right to access to information by citizens. The DDP in partnership with the Diakonia Council of Churches organised a public discussion on the two issues. No publisher Manju 2010-09-28T11:15:25Z Folder http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/public-forum-reforming-the-education-system-what-is-the-way-forward 4 August 2010 - Southern Sun, Elangeni: Against the backdrop of changes to the schooling system that had been announced by the Minister for Basic Education and also mindful of the problems and the ongoing reform process in the education system, the DDP hosted a discussion forum on education policy. No publisher Manju 2010-08-13T12:25:55Z Folder http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/public-forum-the-2010-fifa-world-cup-and-its-impact-on-south-africans July 2nd, 2010, Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel - Three weeks into the tournament, DDP hosted a public forum on the 2010 FIFA World Cup to critically examine the costs and benefits that the event was expected to yield and has yielded for South Africa and its people. Three speakers who have publicized on different issues around the World Cup were invited and gave inputs for subsequent discussion. They were Sam Sole, an investigative journalist for the Mail & Guardian, Dr. Orli Bass, who is with UKZN’s Centre for Critical Research on Race and Identity and Prof. Brij Maharaj, from the Department of Geography at UKZN. No publisher Manju 2010-07-08T09:21:58Z Folder http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/public-forum-discussion-on-eskom2019s-3.5-bn-world-bank-loan-and-its-implications-for-ordinary-south-africans Thursday, 20 May 2010, Southern Sun, Elangeni, Durban - The forum sought to address issues around the controversial loan that has been granted by the World Bank to help finance Eskom’s build programme, specifically the large coal-fired plant the parastatal power utility is currently building in Medupi, Limpopo. DDP was pleased to welcome two speakers to this event, namely Prof. Patrick Bond from the Centre for Civil Society and Mr. Bobby Peek, from the environmental NGO groundwork. No publisher Karel 2010-06-07T13:14:17Z Folder http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/Public%20forum%20discussion%20on%20Lifestyle%20Audits.pdf Tuesday, 24 March 2010, Southern Sun, Elangeni, Durban - The controversial idea of lifestyle audits being conducted on politicians triggered a lively debate with some welcoming it while others said it created an impression that black politicians were corrupt. Political analyst, Dumisani Hlophe and University of Kwa-Zulu Natal political analyst, Zakhele Ndlovu presented their views at the forum. No publisher Karel 2010-05-14T12:00:42Z File http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/Roundtable%20discussion%20on%20socioeconomic%20rights.pdf Wednesday, March 3, 2010, Saartjie Baartman Centre, Cape Town - The DDP hosted a discussion with members of grassroots organisations to determine their thinking of South Africa’s much vaunted constitutionally enshrined socioeconomic rights, based on the experience of their everyday life activities and others with whom they share similar social conditions. No publisher Karel 2010-05-14T12:00:51Z File http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/Public%20forum%20discussion%20on%20the%20State%20of%20the%20Nation%20Address.pdf Tuesday, 23 February 2010, Southern Sun, Elangeni, Durban - The aim of the public forum was to deeply analyze and interrogate the State of the Nation Address (SONA) that was delivered by the Honorable, President JG Zuma on the 11th of February 2010. Presentations were made by Dr. Mcebisi Ndletyana, Senior Research Specialist of the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) and Dr. Siphamandla Zondi, Executive Director of the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD) No publisher Karel 2010-05-10T12:25:51Z File http://www.ddp.org.za/programme-events/civil-society/public-dialogues-fora/Public%20forum%20discussion%20on%20electricity%20policy%20in%20post-apartheid%20South%20Africa.pdf Thursday, November 26, 2009, Southern Sun, Elangeni, Durban - The discussion was to assess the redistributional effects of the post-apartheid South African state’s electricity policy, how it is gendered and its impact on grassroots political activism. Professor Greg Ruiters (Institute of Social and Economic Research /Rhodes Univ.), Ms. Nthabiseng Mohlokoana (Democracy and Governance/HSRC) and Mr. Trevor Ngwane (Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee) presented at the forum. No publisher Karel 2010-05-10T11:56:31Z File