South Africa has never reached an embedded democratic state. Its post-apartheid experience more realistically reflects ongoing oscillation between a deepening and a reversal of democratic liberties.
President Jacob Zuma’s fleeting mention of universities in his speech was merely political expediency.
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There was nothing in President Zuma’s speech to suggest that he’d really listened to people’s concerns about higher education - nor to suggest that any solutions will be forthcoming.
President Jacob Zuma delivers his State of the Nation address.
Reuters/Schalk van Zuydam
Jacob Zuma tried to cover everything under the sun in his State of the Nation address. The speech was not pivoted on an anchor. It was a collection of inputs from various government departments.
President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address didn’t suggest any real urgency or energy.
Rodger Bosch/EPA
With South African local government elections coming up later in 2016, Jacob Zuma and his governing ANC must ensure that citizens still look to them as a party of hope.
South Africa hasn’t veered away from nuclear as an energy option, but President Jacob Zuma signalled a slowdown.
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President Zuma indicated a welcome slowdown in the South African government’s stated intention to invest in nuclear power plants.
South Africa’s Jacob Zuma is president of the country as well as the African National Congress. He is under pressure on all fronts.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
It is unlikely President Zuma will announce a structural changes in his State of the Nation Address. This, despite education being in dire need of fundamental restructuring and an economy in decline.
Environmental activists demand a fair climate change deal outside the United Nations Climate Change conference in South Africa recently.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
The 2016 State of the Nation Address provides President Zuma with the ideal opportunity to be statesman-like. That would require bold action of his part, something that he is unlikely to do.
Much is expected of South African President Jacob Zuma when he delivers his 2016 State of the Nation Address.
Reuters/Sumaya Hisham
The general loss of faith in the economy is the most important issue President Zuma must address. More radical social and economic transformation, with emphasis on land reform will be most critical.
President Jacob Zuma surprised South Africans by offering to pay back public money spent on his private home.
Reuters/Nic Bothma
Jacob Zuma has backtracked on two major decisions in under two months – first after he fired his finance minister; now he says he’ll pay back public money spent on his lavish Nkandla homestead.
South Africa is losing patience with the ANC.
Reuters/Mark Wessells
South Africa’s president is direly unpopular and his government on the ropes – but protests against him are just empty symbolism.
South African President Jacob Zuma, who is also the president of the governing African National Congress, with his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
The ANC will be judged by its ability to deliver on its promises to provide basic services and good governance, practise sound financial management and combat corruption this election year.
Supporters of South Africa’s governing ANC at the party’s 104 anniversary celebration in Rustenburg.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
For more than 100 years South Africa’s ruling ANC and its leaders have often been able to speak to and for the nation with resonance and moral authority, their words matching actions. Not any more.
South Africa’s governing African National Congress celebrates its 104th anniversary this year, ahead of crucial local government elections.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
Pundits will closely watch President Jacob Zuma’s January 8 statement to see what he and the governing ANC consider to be priorities for the country in 2016.
Jacob Zuma’s position has been weakened after an avalanche of criticism forced him to reverse his decision on a new finance minister.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
South Africans are all poorer as a result of Jacob Zuma’s decision to replace his finance minister. But there maybe benefits too. The debacle suggests his grip on power has been weakened.
Jacob Zuma’s bungling over the finance minister position has left him politically vulnerable.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
South African President Jacob Zuma has lost control of his party and his administration. It is time citizens came together and gave the old man a helping hand to exit.
South African academics are extremely worried about President Jacob Zuma’s axing of the finance minister.
Reuters/Stefanie Loos
Academics from several South African universities say that in the current world economy decisions about any country’s finance minister cannot be made “lightly or capriciously”.
The ANC faces its toughest municipal elections test next year amid falling support.
Reuters/Mark Wessels
The annulment of the Tlokwe byelection results is a blow for the governing ANC. It has had a torrid 2015 and faces difficult local government elections early next year.
South Africa’s nuclear deal with Russia is part of the backdrop to the current crisis.
Reuters/Alexei Nikolsky
President Jacob Zuma’s era has been characterised by a high turnover, not only of cabinet members, but also senior public officials and executives in state-owned enterprises.
South Africa’s Justice Sisi Khampepe swears in David van Rooyen as the new Minister of Finance while President Jacob Zuma looks on.
EPA/Elmond Jiyane
The sudden expulsion of the finance minister makes it hard not to be pessimistic about the South African government’s ability to manage the difficult challenges it might face in 2016.
Nhlanhla Nene, South Africa’s former finance minister. President Zuma’s decision to fire him is irrational.
EPA/Nic Bothma
It is difficult to analyse political developments in South Africa. Decision-making does not fit any neat political science theory. President Zuma is unpredictable and his policy thinking is woolly.