In his budget speech next week, the Minister of Finance will detail the measures that government will undertake to assist Eskom to stabilise its finances. It represents a significant commitment at a time when public finances are severely constrained. As political parties and as leaders, we must desist from statements that demean or insult […]
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No more talking Mr President. No more watching. South Africa needs action.
We are a State of big promises. We’re a State of Commissions, Task Teams and Road Shows for every possible problem. But when it comes to actually doing things, we are a State of No Action. 12 February 2019 Speech delivered by Democratic Alliance (DA) Leader, Mmusi Maimane, at the Joint Sitting Debate on the President’s […]
President Ramaphosa’s education plans don’t quite make the grade
Suellen Shay, Professor, University of Cape Town South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, delivered in Cape Town on February 7, has attracted a fair amount of praise. But while the speech scored an A for its vision and plan for economic renewal, it scored an F for education. If the amount […]
A democracy or a kleptocracy? How South Africa stacks up
Roger Southall, Professor of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand South Africans have been held spellbound by the torrent of evidence of corruption emerging from two parallel commissions of inquiry – into state capture, and the fitness to hold office of two senior officials of the National Prosecuting Authority. These strengthen perceptions that South Africa under […]
Is South Africa on the cusp of a major shift in energy policy?
Hartmut Winkler, Professor of Physics, University of Johannesburg South Africans go to the polls this year. And for the first time the country’s energy future is becoming a significant subject of contestation. This is because the public is now much more aware of the ongoing crisis at the national electricity utility Eskom and the economic […]
South Africa’s war on graft is picking up speed. But will anyone go to jail?
If Ramaphosa doesn’t match Zuma’s performance electorally, his political muscle in the ANC and support for his reform agenda will be weakened, diminishing his chances of acting decisively against those implicated in the state capture inquiry. Richard Calland, Associate Professor in Public Law, University of Cape Town South Africa’s latest pursuit of truth has gone […]
Why Ramaphosa can’t stop the ANC’s decline, even with a win at the polls
The gazetting of changes to the Property Valuation Act of 2014 in November 2018 seeks to change the formula that will be used to calculate the compensation payable when a property is targeted for land reform. Under the new formula, the value of a property will be determined based on its income. Naturally, there are […]
South African commentators often don’t understand the ANC – or the country
Steven Friedman, Professor of Political Studies, University of Johannesburg Regular media as well as social media in South Africa have much to say about the governing African National Congress (ANC). But much of the commentary fails to understand the party – or the country. This was evident when the ANC launched its election manifesto at […]
Ramaphosa sets out a bold vision for South Africa. But can he pull it off?
Cheryl Hendricks, Executive director, Africa Institute of South Africa, Human Sciences Research Council As South Africa heads for the polls in a few months time in its sixth democratic election, political party electioneering has begun in earnest. President Cyril Ramaphosa kick started the governing African National Congress’s (ANC’s) election campaign in his January 8th Statement […]
A referendum on land reform in South Africa? Brexit suggests not
“One danger is that there may be a populist call for the introduction of referenda. For instance, if down the road, the Constitutional Court was to rule that any proposed amendment to the constitution regarding the expropriation of land without compensation was unconstitutional, there might be a demand that the issue be put directly to the […]