South Africa the antithesis of a civilised society

In the book Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason and the Gap Between Us And Them, author Joshua Greene makes some compelling arguments about some of the factors behind conflict in society. He argues that... 

Our priority task should be to define what constitutes a civilised state

Broadly speaking, the creation of a society that is the antithesis of our apartheid past constitutes the bare minimum of what we need to achieve as a country. The greater goal is that of a society... 

Hysterical pessimism not the solution to South Africa’s problems

In the book Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, Joseph Schumpeter states: “Frank presentation of ominous facts was never more necessary than it is today because we seem to have developed escapism... 

South Africa in 2015

The 2015 political calendar looks very interesting indeed. This is the year of the National General Council (NGC) of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). It is also the year of the special... 

Let’s do away with ideas that ensure our people are the wretched of the earth

The year 2014 is the year during which South Africa celebrated 20 years of democracy. But 2014 is also the year during which chinks in our liberal democratic project seemed to occupy centre stage... 

The DA – boon or bane for SA democracy?

Is the Democratic Alliance (DA) a blessing or a curse to our democracy? Five years ago, the DA went to court to challenge the decision of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to withdraw... 

First salvos fired in ANC leadership battles

The elective national conference of the African National Congress (ANC) is still three years away but, if the deliberations at the Gauteng provincial conference of the ruling party are anything to... 

Spy tapes ruling opens Pandora’s box

Democratic alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille, in response to the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to grant the party access to the so-called ‘spy tapes’, said that this decision was... 

The EFF’s dual character

Where do the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) come from, and where are they going? In the lead-up to the 1949 national conference of the African National Congress (ANC), the Youth League tried to... 

The EFF's dual character

Where do the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) come from, and where are they going? In the lead-up to the 1949 national conference of the African National Congress (ANC), the Youth League tried to... 

SA on brink of economic crisis despite assurances

Is the South African economy on the brink of disaster? Or, to put it differently, is South Africa itself on the brink of disaster? Last month, ratings agency Standard and Poor's downgraded the... 

SA should elect a future that foregrounds the greater good

As they usually say after an election, the people have spoken. The question is: What did they say? In my estimation, what we understood them to be saying depends on our economic, social, political... 

SA should elect a future that foregrounds the greater good

As they usually say after an election, the people have spoken. The question is: What did they say? In my estimation, what we understood them to be saying depends on our economic, social, political... 

Reflections on 2014 elections

The 2014 general election is, in terms of the results, most probably the most interesting to decode since the advent of democracy in 1994. While the single-party dominance of the African National... 

Moral, ethical issues not major issues for ANC voters despite Nkandlagate

There is no issue or factor that, on its own, will determine whether the African National Congress (ANC) gains or loses support in the May election. While the anger and disappointment of some... 

Moral, ethical issues not major issues for ANC voters despite Nkandlagate

There is no issue or factor that, on its own, will determine whether the African National Congress (ANC) gains or loses support in the May election. While the anger and disappointment of some... 

Promises, promises . . .

Critical and strategic national conversations seldom occur during an election year and this year is not going to be an exception. As evidenced by the content of the election manifestos of different... 

Promises, promises . . .

Critical and strategic national conversations seldom occur during an election year, and this year is not going to be an exception. As evidenced by the content of the election manifestos of... 

DA-Agang fiasco damaged opposition politics

The United Party was the ruling party of South Africa from 1934 to 1948, when the National Party came to power. The National Party was in power for 46 years  – until it was dislodged by the African... 

Zuma booing an indication of citizens’ unhappiness

At the memorial service for Nelson Mandela last month, President Jacob Zuma was jeered, booed and heckled by some sections of the crowd in front of tens of heads of State who were in the country to... 

Ruling alliance a mess as ANC loses plot

A year ago, the African National Congress (ANC) held its centenary national conference in Mangaung, where President Jacob Zuma won the battle for the presidency of the ruling party by a wide... 

Race and the 2014 election

Because of apartheid and colonialism, race was the main social contradiction before the democratic breakthrough of 1994. As we approach the 2014 general election, does race still matter? If it... 

Gauteng ANC calling on Mbeki to be Zuma’s cheerleader, flower girl

According to newspaper reports, the African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng would like former President Thabo Mbeki to join the 2014 election campaign effort of the ruling party in the province... 

Reflections on 2014 elections

In the 2009 general election, the African National Congress (ANC) won 11 650 748 votes (65.9% of the vote) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) won 2 945 829 votes, which amounted to 16.66% of the... 

Reflections on 2014 elections

In the 2009 general election, the African National Congress (ANC) won 11 650 748 votes (65.9% of the vote) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) won 2 945 829 votes, which amounted to 16.66% of the... 

Tsvangirai’s ineptitude contributed to Zanu-PF electoral win

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) thought it was too early, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, agreed, but Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe... 

Mandela should not be seen as a commodity

To whom does Nelson Mandela belong? Who owns him?By way of answering this question, let me start with a trite remark: If Mandela were an ordinary villager from Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, the... 

Perfect storm of economic, political developments is avoidable

Worries about the current economic situation and the possibility of more instability in the mining sector must be understood in terms of the economic impact of political uncertainty and the... 

Perfect storm of economic, political developments is avoidable

Worries about the current economic situation and the possibility of more instability in the mining sector must be understood in terms of the economic impact of political uncertainty and the... 

Guptagate reignites concerns about national security

It was with a sense of irritation that many South Africans greeted the news of the unauthorised landing at the Waterkloof Air Force base of a civilian aircraft carrying members of the Gupta family... 

Guptagate reignites concerns about national security

It was with a sense of irritation that many South Africans greeted the news of the unauthorised landing at the Waterkloof air force base of a civilian aircraft carrying members of the Gupta family... 

CAR incident highlights importance of trust between govt, citizens

There is one thing that governments all over the world, democratic and undemocratic, have in common: they all seem to think that foreign policy is an esoteric area of human endeavour that is beyond... 

CAR incident highlights importance of trust between govt, citizens

There is one thing that governments all over the world, democratic and undemocratic, have in common: they all seem to think that foreign policy is an esoteric area of human endeavour that is beyond... 

Ramphele’s Agang under the spotlight

In February, Mamphela Ramphele, a former black consciousness activist, University of Cape Town vice chancellor and World Bank mMD, launched a ‘party political platform’ called Agang (Build!). 

Ramphele's Agang under the spotlight

In February, Mamphela Ramphele, a former black consciousness activist, University of Cape Town Vice-Chancellor and World Bank managing director, launched a ‘party political platform’ called Agang... 

SA needs qualitatively different political, economic system

In the months leading up to the election of Jacob Zuma as head of State in 2009, there was a lot of concern about his ability to govern a modern economy and State. After his inauguration in May... 

SA needs qualitatively different political, economic system

In the months leading up to the election of Jacob Zuma as head of state in 2009, there was a lot of concern about his ability to govern a modern economy and state. After his inauguration in May... 

Mangaung a bit of a damp squib, but not uninteresting

The Mangaung conference of the African National Congress (ANC) has come and gone. Will the lot of the ordinary South African be better or worse, and has the conference taken the country closer... 

Role of factionalism in lead-up to Mangaung

Essop Pahad, an African National Congress (ANC) luminary and former Minister in the Presidency during the reign of Thabo Mbeki, says that all members of the ANC must vote in leadership elections....