South Africa’s Constitutional Court verdict is possibly a defining moment for South Africa’s electoral system.
Rivonia trialist Denis Goldberg speaking at a gala event in 2011 to honour the surviving members of the Rivonia Trial.
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Goldberg was the youngest Rivonia triallist. Segregated prisons meant he was sent to Pretoria, while his fellow accused were incarcerated on Robben Island.
Oukasie residents protest over poor service delivery in 2010.
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A readable and important new book on the struggle for justice in South Africa’s Oukasie township does not go far enough to question the feasibility of grassroots resistance.
The life and work of seminal South African writer, intellectual and politician Sol Plaatje seems more relevant than ever. We look into some of the latest scholarly inquiry.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has to inspire confidence amid growing scepticism.
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The challenge to deliver a persuasive speech comes firstly in the context of intense doubts as to whether President Ramaphosa is truly in charge of the ANC.
FW de Klerk, the last president of apartheid South Africa.
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In his new capacity as President of South Africa, FW de Klerk directly experienced for the first time how the international community had abandoned its support for minority white rule.
Anti-corruption protesters march on Parliament in Cape Town in 2017.
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In South Africa, state corruption has taken hold with utter disregard for ethics and democratic norms in a cynical exploitation of the post-apartheid transformation agenda.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech failed to inspire confidence.
EFE-EPA/ANC handout
The most that may be hoped for from the party’s annual statement is evidence of a president who is confident, clear and courageous.
Cyril Ramaphosa is president of South Africa as well as president of the governing African National Congress. The party has scuppered coalition building at local government level.
EPA/Yeshiel Panchia
Race is the fault line. Prominent black DA figures label attempts to remove leader Mmusi Maimane as an attempt by whites to force black members into a subordinate position.
Mmusi Maimane, leader of South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance.
EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook
Because it’s a blend of political influences the transition it is facing has, inevitably, had an existential effect on the Democratic Alliance.
One of the immediate outcomes of talks between Muhammadu Buhari (left) and Cyril Ramaphosa was the easing of tensions.
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Women were able to pursue an impressive feminist agenda as South Africa made its transition to democracy. But 25 years later there’s not a lot left of the early victories.
Chief Research Specialist in Democracy and Citizenship at the Human Science Research Council and a Research Fellow Centre for African Studies, University of the Free State