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Featured image for “Kudos to our Senior Researcher Hibist Kassa”

Kudos to our Senior Researcher Hibist Kassa

IFAA would like to congratulate our senior researcher, Dr Hibist Kassa, on the publication of her chapter ‘The Crisis of Social Reproduction in Petty Commodity Production and Large-scale Mining: A Southern Perspective on Gender Inequality’ in the new collection Inequality Studies from the Global South, Routledge (2020). For more information…
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IFAA Webinar: Reflections on Trotsky, Thursday, 29th October 2020

The Institute for African Alternatives invites you to join our online discussion forum: Reflections on Trotsky, on Thursday 29th October 2020, 3pm. Please read the brief and find the webinar link information below: Brief As we mark the 80th anniversary of Trotsky’s assassination we find ourselves in the midst of…
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Featured image for “The Imperative for Productive and Jobs-Rich Investment”

The Imperative for Productive and Jobs-Rich Investment

Capitalist development since the Second World War ushered in unprecedented rates of capital accumulation and structural change in the world economy in the form of rapid industrialisation. Fast and sustained industrialisation has been associated with large increases in wage employment, labour productivity, and health and educational welfare. Countries that have…
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CSIR: South African Players in R & D-An Interview with Sibusiso Sibisi

Sibusiso Sibisi is chief executive officer of the CSIR, South Africa’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. They don’t make many headlines, but CSIR research and development is opening the way for new made-in- SA technology and enterprises. Ben Turok: Is it true that CSIR was founded mainly to meet…
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Minerals are Not Forever: IFAA study for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

In 2016 IFAA was commissioned to do a study on mineral value chains in South Africa and Africa. The study was done by Ben Turok (lead consultant) with chapters by Anthony Black, Michael Kahn, Chris Callaghan, Pundy Pillay and Richard Levin, supported by IFAA staff. We reproduce parts of the final…
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Industry Adds Value

Below find Prof. Ben Turok’s letter to Business Day on 17 June 2015. ALLOW me to comment on Songezo Zibi’s latest column (Unembargoed, June 15). He takes a rather pessimistic view on the prospects of industrialisation in SA through building a “bigger heavy industrial sector … to fuel infrastructure”. The…
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Towards a Joined up Economy: Remarks for Colloquium on Beneficiation (DTI)

Remarks made by Prof. Turok at the Colloquium on Beneficiation hosted by the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry. The Colloquium took place between 27 August-4 September 2014 in Parliament, Cape Town Click on the following link to download: Towards a Joined up Economy…
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The Scope for Domestic Value Addition in a Mining Economy: The South African Case

ABSTRACT In this paper Professor Ben Turok (director) examines the constraints on beneficiation in South Africa. He calls for a negotiated compromise on domestic prices, perhaps for a fixed period, with suitable provisions for improved infrastructure services, and step-by-step measures to enhance local value addition and beneficiation by local manufacturers and…
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Conference: Interface between Mining and Manufacturing

An experts’ consultation on the Interface between Mining and Manufacturing was held at the IDC on 22 August 2013. IFAA co-hosted the forum along with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The forum also benefitted from the support of the Department of…
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BD Letter to Editor: Cape Town Mining Lekgotla

Prof. Turok writes to Business Day regarding the Cape Town Mining Lekgotla.  Sir, The report on the legislative proposals discussed at the Cape Town Mining Lekgotla (11.2.2015) raises many concerns. The mining industry has consistently stuck to its determination to sell minerals in the South African market at import parity prices…
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Mineral Value Chain: Agenda for Action

IFAA writes an agenda for action inviting all interested parties, mining and manufacturing companies, government, international agencies, research organisations, universities and experts to cooperate with us in advancing knowledge about mineral value chains and how they might benefit the people of Africa. 22nd January 2015  The Institute For African Alternatives (IFAA)…
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The obstacle of import parity pricing

Prof. Ben Turok (director) writes on import parity pricing as an obstacle for beneficiation.  Published in Business Day 12/02/2015 The report on the legislative proposals discussed at the Mining Indaba (Minister goes back on mining agreement, February 11) raises many concerns. The mining industry has consistently stuck to its determination…
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