What the lack of accountability for Marikana says about Zuma’s government
Five years on, no-one has been held to account for the Marikana massacre where 34 miners were shot dead by members of the South African Police Service in a single day.
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Articles on South African politics
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Why title deeds aren’t the solution to South Africa’s land tenure problem
The conventional view is that insecurity of land tenure results from the lack of a registered title deed which records the property rights of occupants of land or housing.
What’s happening inside the ANC, not parliament, is key to why Zuma prevails
Unless parliament passes a motion of no confidence in him, which is not on the cards any time soon, Zuma's future depends on whether he's weakened in the African National Congress, not parliament.
Are South Africa’s opposition-led coalition metros flexing their muscles?
Are different ways of governing emerging from South Africa's cities governed by opposition coalitions?
Zuma won, but the ANC will never be a united party again
The bitter attitude of ANC leaders who spoke inside and outside Parliament before and after the no confidence vote added fuel to already existing public anger at the arrogance of the governing party.
No confidence vote: a victory for Zuma, but a defeat for the ANC
The political death of President Jacob Zuma is proving to be a protracted affair. Though he lives to fight another day, the ANC faces the prospect of losing its majority at the polls next year.
Pros and cons of the three women running for South Africa’s presidency
All three female contenders for the presidency of the ANC and South Africa have strong liberation struggle credentials and have also contributed to democracy. But, are they up to the job?
Zuma no confidence vote: the ANC is the loser, whatever happens
Even if President Zuma wins the no confidence vote, the consequences for the ruling ANC are dire. A loss would see it further divided and weakened ahead of the 2019 elections.
South Africa will be better off if the vote to oust Zuma proves to be a damp squib
What South Africa's opposition parties want Parliament and the courts to do would damage the country's democracy.
What’s in a name? Towards genuine economic transformation in South Africa
South Africa's governing ANC has always seen economic growth as the driving force for change. This was wishful thinking as the damage done by apartheid will take far more to undo.
Political irrationality is ruining South Africa, but can still be stopped
Democracy and good governance require politicians to engage in reasoned debate, informed decision making and measured judgements. This presupposes rationality. Is this always true?
The best way South Africans can honour Mandela is by being active citizens
To honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela, South Africa could do with its citizens becoming more active in driving development - particularly efforts to tackle poverty an inequality.
ANC conference: governing party blew chance to regain South Africa’s trust
South Africa's governing ANC appears to have lost claim to being a leader of society. This is clear from the outcome of its policy conference.
ANC policy anarchy – its leaders are too weak to lead, or too weak to take over
The policy conference of South Africa's governing ANC will be remembered for a party in disarray, plagued with internal dissent.
ANC policy conference: deeper polarisation and a stalemate for South Africa
Policy conferences of South Africa's governing ANC have been about economic policy matters. But more recently organisational renewal has also dominated, as the party loses support.
South Africa’s problems lie in political negligence, not its Constitution
Has South Africa's constitutional project failed? Is the country's constitution an obstacle to meaningful redistribution and land reform?
Why the ANC may be stumbling closer to its most serious split yet
The possibility that South Africa's ruling ANC could lose power in 2019 runs like a tragic thread through its policy conference documents. It agrees that its actions have repelled many supporters.
ANC policy papers point to a party in a panic about losing power
Documents released ahead of the policy conference of South Africa's embattled governing ANC show it hasn't the guts or internal balance of forces, for self-correction and renewal.
South Africa’s main opposition party can’t cure its foot-in-mouth syndrome
With the ANC in crisis, the Democratic Alliance seemed to be getting it right. But then came a flurry of inexplicably tactless tweets.
How South Africa can stop political interference in who gets prosecuted
South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority has failed to pursue members of the executive. But a separate prosecuting body assigned only political cases could be the answer.
Top contributors
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Political Scientist, University of the Western Cape
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Professor in Political Science, University of South Africa
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Professor of Public Affairs, Tshwane University of Technology
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Professor of World Politics, SOAS, University of London
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Associate Professor and Head of Department of Political and Conflict Studies, Nelson Mandela University
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Professor of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand
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Professor in the Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand
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Associate Professor in Public Law, University of Cape Town
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Professor Emeritus, Society, Work and Development Institute, University of the Witwatersrand
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Senior Research Specialist in Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery at the Human Science Research Council and a Research Fellow Centre for African Studies, University of the Free State
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Lecturer and PhD Candidate, Department of Political & Conflict Studies, Nelson Mandela University
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Head of Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand
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Professor in the Department of Journalism, Film and Television, University of Johannesburg
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Professor of Political Science, Stellenbosch University
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Professor of Humanities and the Director of the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study (JIAS), University of Johannesburg
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