FEATURED NEWS

This is an extraordinary time full of vital, transformative movements that could not be foreseen. It’s also a nightmarish time. Full engagement requires the ability to perceive both. Suellen Shay, Dean and Associate Professor, University of Cape Town Jonathan Jansen, vice-chancellor of the University of the Free State in South Africa until a year ago, […]

The biggest obstacle to exposing the criminal networks running the southern route has been the Combined Task Force’s lack of jurisdiction to arrest heroin trafficking crews in international waters. This has resulted in the practice of the Combined Task Force throwing the heroin overboard and setting the crew and their vessel free. Carina Bruwer, PhD […]

The balance of power in the ANC, which decided who will lead it next year, may not have been affected either way by the no confidence vote. What is happening inside the ANC may not be morally uplifting. But nor is it about foolishness or hypocrisy. Steven Friedman, Professor of Political Studies, University of Johannesburg […]

Is this why the ANC so forthrightly rejected the recommendations of the Van Zyl Slabbert Commission on Electoral Reform? The commission recommended a mixed electoral system, whereby MPs would be elected on party platforms but from multi-member constituencies? Roger Southall, Professor of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand Prior to the motion of no confidence in […]

The DA has taken a decision – in terms of Section 50 of the Constitution – to move a motion in the National Assembly to dissolve Parliament and for an early general election to be held. Section 50 of our Constitution states that the President must dissolve the National Assembly if the Assembly has adopted […]

The ANC will face the prospect of losing its majority at the national polls for the first time since Nelson Mandela’s historic victory in 1994. Richard Calland, Associate Professor in Public Law, University of Cape Town Jacob Zuma is a natural born political survivor. Yesterday South Africa’s president overcame an eighth no confidence vote, despite […]

The likelihood is that she will seek to deflect criticism by announcing in favour of a secret ballot – but only at the last minute. Roger Southall, Professor of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand South Africa’s governing African National Congress has got itself into one hell of a pickle. Next week the National Assembly will […]

Prof. Quinton Johnson, Campus Principal : Strategic Leadership and Management, Nelson Mandela University A more than 365 year history of colonialism and apartheid have indelibly affected land, heritage and human rights in South Africa. Among the vast array of discriminatory laws was the Land Act of 1913 that spatially segregated people through land dispossession. It […]

by Pierre de Vos Constitutionally Speaking Over the weekend ANC presidential hopeful Lindiwe Sisulu raised the possibility of granting President Jacob Zuma amnesty from prosecution for all the crimes he is alleged to have committed, in order to “preserve the unity” of the ANC. The problem is that there is no valid legal avenue through […]

The first major challenge in South Africa’s defence budget is that almost 80% goes for personnel expenses. The rest is allocated for operational expenditure, with only limited money available for any capital projects. It’s no surprise then that the Defence Force complains about the maintenance of equipment, infrastructure, training, administration and force preparation. Abel Esterhuyse, […]