---
title: "From vaccines and votes, to State Capture, climate change and food for thought"
description: "How to increase vaccination rates, the institutional damage of State Capture, discussing local government and how to rebuild food systems sustainably after Covid-19."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Civil Society Watch 27 September-3 October"
author: "Zukiswa Pikoli"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/zukiswa-pikoli/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-09-27-from-vaccines-and-votes-to-state-capture-climate-change-and-food-for-thought/"
published: "2021-09-27T13:54:58"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 781
---

# From vaccines and votes, to State Capture, climate change and food for thought

> How to increase vaccination rates, the institutional damage of State Capture, discussing local government and how to rebuild food systems sustainably after Covid-19.

By Zukiswa Pikoli · Published 27 September 2021, 15:54 SAST

## Content

Columbia University and Wits University will host a symposium from**Monday, 27 September to 1 October** on *Effective ways to increase vaccination rates*. Download the full programme [here](https://vacsafe.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/content/Events/Program%20Effective%20Ways%20to%20Increase%20Vaccination%20Rates.pdf). The symposium will be convened by Dr Wilmot James, Senior Research Scholar at ISERP Columbia University, and will bring together leaders, decision-makers, strategists and implementers of vaccination campaigns in Africa and the developing world, including *Maverick Citizen* editor Mark Heywood who will give closing reflections on the last day. You can register to attend the symposium [here.](https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JhIPDHAeQNm7Ggg8yVBoFw)

![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MC-CSW27-september-Zukiswa_6.jpg)

On**Tuesday, 28 September,**from**5.30pm to 7.30pm,**My Vote Counts will be launching its local government webinar series, *Local government in crisis*: *Why are municipalities failing?*The discussants are Ayanda Kota from the Unemployed People’s Movement and Phindile Kunene from the Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education. You can join the discussion [here](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LGE2021?src=hashtag_click).

At**11am on Wednesday, 29 September,**theKathrada Foundation will host a discussion titled *State Capture: Unpacking the institutional damage*as part of its #FixIt series to discuss what needs to be done to fix the government after State Capture. The series will run until March 2022.You can register to join[here](https://bit.ly/3AxWF1k).

![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MC-CSW27-september-Zukiswa_2.jpg)Also on**Wednesday,**from**2pm to 4pm,**the Dullah Omar Institute, Global Environmental Law Centre and University of the Western Cape will be hosting a discussion on *Next generation constitutionalism: Climate change and constitutional law.*Register to attend [here.](https://t.co/cJCf3puaqG?amp=1)

**![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MC-CSW27-september-Zukiswa_7.jpg)Later**on **Wednesday,**from**3pm to 4pm,**the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative will be hosting a webinar titled *Innovation for NTDs in the next decade: the critical role of African leadership.*The discussion will focus on how to achieve the elimination and control of neglected diseases. The discussants are Professor Samuel Kariuki, Ag Director-General, Kenya medical research Unit; Dr Margaret Agama, Anyetei, Ag Director for Health and Humanitarian Affairs, Africa Union Commission; Dr Michael Makanga, Executive Director of the EDCTP Association Secretariat; Dr Monique Wasunna, Director of the DNDi Africa Regional Office; Dr Francis Kuria, Head Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kenya; and Gerald Chirinda, Founder, Youth Combating NTDs. You can join the discussion [here.](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3316318716970/WN_kG9Jlg9iR7uz53ipwK14_A)

![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MC-CSW27-september-Zukiswa_4.jpg)On**Thursday, 30 September** at **1pm,** PLAAS is hosting a webinar titled *A Just Recovery: Rebuilding Food Systems after Covid-19 and Unrest in South Africa.* The speakers are Ayanda Madlala from the Association for Rural Advancement; Dudu Ngcobo, a street trader in Pietermaritzburg; Makhanana Malungane from the University of Pretoria; and Mervyn Abrahams from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group. Register to join[here](https://t.co/tXuPyBFoMi?amp=1)

![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MC-CSW27-september-Zukiswa_8.jpg)Also on**Thursday,**from**2pm to 3.30pm,**the Socio-Economic Rights Project (SERP) and the Dullah Omar Institute, University of the Western Cape will host the book launch and dialogue of Bright Nkrumah, a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. It is titled *Seeking the right to food: food activism in South Africa.*The speakers are Dr Oluwafunmilola Adeniyi, postdoctoral researcher, Dullah Omar Institute, University of the Western Cape; Dr Marc Wegerif, Senior Lecturer and Development Studies Programme Coordinator, University of Pretoria; and David Kabanda, Director, Centre for Food and Adequate Living Rights, Uganda . You can register to attend [here.](https://click.mlsend.com/link/c/YT0xNzc4OTE4MzgyOTY0MzE1MTUwJmM9bDNpNiZlPTMyNzcxMzQzJmI9NzI3NjM2NTE0JmQ9cTR6N240dw==.6oPoHJlOeKC6ZrOSTo_ecjLDKkINmIDspay3cHXa2Tw)

![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MC-CSW27-september-Zukiswa_1.jpg)

Later on**Thursday,**from**4.30pm to 6pm,**Wits University and the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies will be hosting Unaids Executive Director Winnie Byanyima who will give a lecture on *The inequality pandemic: overturning the concentrations of wealth and power.*You can register for the lecture [here.](https://bit.ly/3BqkR5A)

![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MC-CSW27-september-Zukiswa_3.jpg)On the same day,at**5.30pm,**theNelson Mandela Foundation and Constitution Hill Trust will host a discussion facilitated by lawyer and SAfm radio host Songezo Mabece titled *From**Codesa to today: The struggles and victories of women mobilising for the Constitution.*The speakers will be Shireen Hassim, Professor and Research Chair in Gender and African Politics, Carleton University; Thuto Thipe, Lecturer, Centre for African Studies, University of Cape Town; Pregs Govender, Activist and Author; and Simamkele Dlakavu, Activist and Gender Studies Lecturer, University of Cape Town. Register [here.](https://t.co/81ANA9Pcz6?amp=1)

Also on**Thursday,**My Vote Counts will host its second local government webinar discussion, *How do communities respond?*The speakers are Dr Trevor Ngwane from the Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee and Dr Tracey Ledger from the Public Affairs Research Institute. You can register to attend [here](https://t.co/VM2U1lQLDr?amp=1).

On **Saturday, 2 October**, from **11am to 2pm**, the Big Debate will be hosting a debate on *The role of small political parties in South Africa*. This will be the first of two debates focused on the local government elections, and will attempt to answer the question: *Does the plurality and growth of political parties in our democracy signal progressive development for the system’s existence and sustainability?*You can register [here.](https://forms.gle/eUraZBkFRQLWGSWv9)**DM/MC**