The people have spoken

In its strategy and tactics documents, the African National Congress (ANC) talks about ‘the people’ as the key motive force of what the ruling party refers to as the National Democratic Revolution.... 

The people have spoken – Aubrey Matshiqi

In its strategy and tactics documents, the African National Congress (ANC) talks about ‘the people’ as the key motive force of what the ruling party refers to as the National Democratic Revolution.... 

ANC will come out tops – and here’s why

Apparently there is a general election on May 8. Were it not for the so-called service delivery protests, one would have forgotten that South Africans are going to the polls in a few days. I refer... 

Post-Sona blues

The 2019 State of the Nation address (Sona) will be remembered for two things in the main: the anger with which some social partners greeted the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that... 

ANC manifesto: we’ve heard that all before

Before I start, let me say this: I have spent the past two days thinking about what to say about the election manifesto of the African National Congress (ANC). After reading the ANC’s manifesto, I... 

A reflection on 2018

Almost a year ago, Cyril Ramaphosa was elected president of the African National Congress (ANC) at the Nasrec national conference of the ruling party. Two months later, he became the President of... 

State capture – again

In my last interview with polity.org, I argued that there is an Askari element in the African National Congress (ANC). This Askari element consists of members and leaders of the ANC who, since the... 

Facilitators of State capture in SA

The State capture commission of inquiry is under way. The picture that is beginning to emerge is that of a South Africa where, by the time former President Jacob Zuma left the stage, corruption was... 

Dissecting the ANC’s sudden interest in land expropriation

Does South Africa belong to those who live in it, or to those who conquered it? In other words, is land expropriation without compensation constitutionally permissible and, is it possible to... 

Land question

Does South Africa belong to those who live in it, or to those who conquered it? In other words, is land expropriation without compensation constitutionally permissible and, is it possible to... 

Ramaphoria index falling

This month we are celebrating the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela. I suspect that the country will celebrate more the older Mandela than the young hothead of a militant who became a... 

When crime intelligence is lacking

The cash-in-transit heists, taxi violence and political assassinations in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) should worry us deeply. What they suggest is the possibility that both policing and our intelligence... 

A reflection on the DA-De Lille imbroglio

A hegemonic project is at its zenith when its driving logic, values and what it represents have become commonsensical. Hegemony at this stage of development is about the reproduction of relations... 

We should be less euphoric about the Ramaphosa moment

In his State of the Nation address, President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke about  a new dawn, hope and renewal. Quoting from the song Thuma Mina (send me), by the late South African jazz giant, Hugh... 

The choices Ramaphosa has to make

As I sit to write this month’s missive, it seems the Zuma moment will be behind us soon. As I write, I am listening to a news bulletin in which it is being reported that African National Congress... 

Ramaphosa headed for stormy seas

The African National Congress (ANC) has a new leader. The question is whether Cyril Ramaphosa is the next President of South Africa. In other words, will Ramaphosa lead the ANC to victory in the... 

ANC leadership race really a contest between Ramaphosa and Zuma

Twelve months ago, I had no doubt that  the national conference of the African National Congress (ANC) would elect Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as president of the ruling party and successor to President... 

Here is why CR17 is not ahead in ANC leadership race

In a matter of weeks, the African National Congress (ANC) will elect its fourteenth president. Depending on who or what section of the media one believes, it is either Cyril Ramaohosa (CR17 to his... 

KPMG scandal could be the tip of the iceberg

The KPMG scandal is an example of what happens when accounting meets the profit imperative. It is also an example of what happens when the profit motive, accounting and politics meet. That said, I... 

NDZ not Zuma’s candidate in ANC leadership race

Let me start by quoting from the book Dictator, by Robert Harris – a book about Rome and the last 15 years of Cicero: “You have the soldiers but no legitimacy, we have the legitimacy but no... 

No credible candidate in the overcrowded race for the presidency of the ANC

In recent months and weeks, Lindiwe Sisulu, Mathews Phosa, Baleka Mbete and Jeff Radebe have entered the race for the presidency of the African National Congress (ANC). In other words, the 2017... 

Conservative streak prevailed at ANC policy conference

At the end of the policy conference of the African National Congress (ANC), President Jacob Zuma declared that the ruling party was more united than it had been when the conference began. In the... 

Zille’s antics a big disservice to the DA

There is an interesting irony about the tension between Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane and his predecessor, Helen Zille. The irony lies less in the fact that Zille mentored Maimane... 

The unravelling of Jacob Zuma

At the memorial service for former President Nelson Mandela, a section of the crowd booed President Jacob Zuma. At the end of last year, former Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom stood up at a meeting... 

Anti-Zuma campaigners should rather pressure ruling party to eject him

To defeat former President Thabo Mbeki, the coalition that supported the then deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC), Jacob Zuma, did two things. Firstly, they decided to step... 

South Africa struggling to be reborn

The South Africa we fought for is struggling to be reborn. In fact, it is being pushed back into the womb. As we prepare to celebrate 23 years of democracy, I find myself wondering whether our... 

Foreign policy rows all about the changing balance of power

The year began with two rows on foreign policy. The first was about a visit to Taiwan by Solly Msimang in his capacity as the executive mayor of Tshwane. The second, which riled the African... 

SA needs a leader who will be able to cure the country’s ills

The election of the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) is not only about individual interests; that is, it is not only about the interests of the individuals who want to ascend to the... 

2016: Year of Orwellian manipulation

We must declare 2016 the year of Orwellian manipulation. For the purposes of this article, Orwellian manipulation is about presenting falsehoods as truths, and truths as falsehoods. The aim is to... 

Tide beginning to turn against Jacob Zuma

What a week! In the same week, the National Prosecuting Authority dropped charges of fraud against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, a judge ordered that the report on the investigation into... 

Likely consequences of an ANC-EFF merger

For about three years now, there have been consistent rumours that some leaders of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African National Congress (ANC) have been engaged in on-off... 

Politics to blame as SA hurtles towards downgrade

South Africa is inching closer and closer towards a downgrade to subinvestment grade. To blame, of course, is the increasingly fractious politics of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). If... 

Implications of this year’s local government elections

In electoral terms, South Africa is a new country. The South Africa of the day before the local government elections, in relation to the South Africa of the day after the elections, is a country... 

ANC should lose August elections – but will it?

The local government elections are upon us. And if things go according to the predictions of political commentators such as yours truly, as well as the number of violent protests we have seen... 

EFF may well exploit rival parties’ incoherence on the race question

The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the African National Congress (ANC) have some common headaches, chief among which is the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). After the 1999 elections, the Democratic... 

There’s more to elections than attendance at manifesto launch rallies

An old Prog – a former member of the liberal Progressive Party, one of the precursors of the Democratic Alliance (DA) – told me a story about the 1961 general election, which was held on October... 

Nkandla judgment a turning point for ANC

A few weeks ago, I argued in an article I wrote for another publication for a proper alignment between conviction and courage. Since then, people have been asking me what I mean when I talk about... 

Gordhan vs Zuma

The course of history can, and may, be changed by a single event. In the case of President Jacob Zuma, that event may be the decision to fire Nhlanhla Nene as South Africa's Finance Minister on... 

ANC weighing pros and cons of long campaign for municipal elections

The African National congress (ANC) launches its local government election manifesto on April 16. Obviously, the elections will definitely not take place in May. Remember that the term of local... 

Municipal vote could be pointer to ANC’s electoral fortunes going forward

This year is the year of the local government elections. This means that, between May and August, we will know whether shifts in voter sentiment, significant or not, have occurred or not. In...