Pt. 1. The state of our democracy, human rights agenda and the challenges facing civil society. The state of the NGO's / Mondli Hlatshwayo -- The financial and administrative independence and accountability of the judiciary: some lessons from the Commonwealth / John Hatchard -- Challenges to the promotion of indigenous languages in South Africa / Kwesi Kwaa Prah -- Beyond the numbers: the struggle for women's liberation / Shamim Meer -- South Africa today: the moral responsibility of intellectuals / Neville Alexander. Pt. 2. The state of socio-economic rights. Water provision in South Africa, 2001-2006: the real story behind the statistics / Ebrahim Harvey -- Land and agrarian transformation in South Africa / Samuel Kariuki -- Environmental justice / David Hallowes -- Achieving food security in South Africa / Morris Mbondenyi.