Rugby World Cup: A one-time aspirant rugby Springbok reflects on the significance of the victory – Part one

“The events of the past six weeks are an incredible tribute to the transformation of a symbol that once represented raw Afrikaner nationalism and power to one that is currently the strongest glue... 

Demoralisation, passivity and hope – Part Two

“… It’s important to emphasise that hope is only a beginning; it’s not a substitute for action, only a basis for it. ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until... 

Crisis, despair and harnessing hope – Part One

We are living in a time when every second analyst or academic or forecaster advances a plan as to how we can extricate ourselves from the present crisis in South Africa. Most are unconvincing... 

South African crisis: despair, hope and the prophetic – Part Two

What does one do to improve our conditions? When one reads about the notion of hope, some of it is in dense theoretical books (as in Ernst Bloch’s massive theoretical treatise The Principle of Hope... 

South African crisis: Addressing despair, hope and the prophetic – Part one

The atmosphere in South Africa in October 2023 is one of pervasive despair, a sense of depression and disillusionment, that things are bad and will never get better. This is partly based on a... 

Stephen Marais’ memoir raises questions and choices beyond the Struggle

The true confessions of an unrehabilitated terrorist.  Anecdotes and Antidotes by Stephen Johannes Marais The genre of prison literature is now rather crowded with several books, having appeared... 

The contribution of the UDF and People’s Power to our understanding of freedom – Part three

The UDF as both an agent of the ANC as well as autonomous actor This is Part three in a series. Read Part one and two. 

The contribution of the UDF and People’s Power to our understanding of freedom – Part two

The current commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the UDF is foregrounding certain elements of the experience of the UDF and underplaying or erasing others. This period was rich with lessons... 

The contribution of the UDF and People’s Power to our understandings of freedom – Part one

When one looks at the statements made in commemorating 40 years since the formation of the United Democratic Front (UDF) one does not generally get a sense that there has been a fresh examination... 

“De-Zumafication” and the possibly terminal crisis of the ANC

The current crisis of the ANC has taken a range of permutations. I have not wanted to write a series of narratives - of which we have plenty - on the latest developments, but probe what constitutes... 

Social grants, obligations and betrayal

What is at stake in the SASSA crisis? At one level we are dealing with an emergency, which is to ensure that grants supporting 17 million people - more than 30% of the population – in the most... 

Xenophobia and the question of universal rights

Professor Raymond Suttner discusses 'How do we address xenophobia?'. 

Understanding #Feesmustfall

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Sane Dhlamini about the #Feesmustfall campaign. Click here to read the column. 

Suttner's View: A political flux

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks about a political flux. 

Suttner's View: #Feesmustfall

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks about the Fees Must Fall protest. 

Probing the ANC membership drop

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks about the ANC membership drop. 

Suttner's View: The ANC NGC decision to withdraw from ICC

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks about the ANC NGC decision to withdraw from the ICC. 

Steps towards understanding the EFF

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Sane Dhlamini about the steps towards understanding the Economic Freedom Fighters. Click here to read the column. 

Ongoing legal action over President Jacob Zuma’s fraud charges

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Sashnee Moodley about the ongoing legal action over President Jacob Zuma’s fraud charges. Click here to read the column. 

Suttner's View: Cultural sensitivities and the sentencing of Thembu King

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks about the cultural sensitivities and the sentencing of Thembu King. 

Continued turmoil in police and prosecution system

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks about the continued turmoil in the police and prosecution systems. 

ANC beyond Zuma and the personalities

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Sane Dhlamini about the ANC beyond Jacob Zuma. Click here to read the column. 

The question of a woman president

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Sane Dhlamini about the question of a woman president. Click here to read the column. 

Suttner's View: Crisis of the media

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks about the potential crisis of the media. 

Court recognises democratic rights of rural communities

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Sane Dhlamini about recognising the democratic rights of rural communities. Click here to read the column. 

Suttner's View: Can we have confidence in the administration of justice?

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks about having confidence in the administration of justice. 

Suttner's View: How do we become secure?

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks about how South Africans can become secure. 

Representation and legitimacy

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Sane Dhlamini about representation and legitimacy. Click here to read the column. 

Scandals and betrayal

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Shannon de Ryhove about scandals and betrayals in South African politics. Click here to read the column. 

Suttner's View: Leadership, trust and confidence

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks about leadership, trust and confidence. 

Suttner's View: Empowering women in public life

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks about empowering women in public life. 

What is radical today?

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Shannon de Ryhove about the need to take radical political action in the short and long-term. Click here to read the column. 

Why government resists naming xenophobia

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Sane Dhlamini about why government resists naming xenophobia. Click here to read the column. 

Suttner's View: State of the ANC-led alliance

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner discusses the state of the ANC-led alliance. 

Suttner's View: The importance of membership in political organisations

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner discusses the importance of membership in political organisations. 

Democracy under scrutiny

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Sane Dhlamini about South Africa's democracy. Click here to read the column. 

Suttner's View: Traditional leaders and African customary law today

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner discusses traditional leaders and African customary law today. 

Limits and possibilities of law and courts today

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Shannon de Ryhove about Deepening and broadening our democracy. 

The Freedom Charter today

Researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner speaks to Polity's Shannon de Ryhove about the Freedom Charter in current times. Click here to read the column. 

Suttner's View: Understanding flux in the current SA political scene?

In this episode of Suttner's View, researcher and analyst Professor Raymond Suttner discusses the flux in the current South African political scene.