Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma: two very different styles of governing.
Jon Hrusa/EPA
The second episode of What happened to Nelson Mandela’s South Africa?, a three-part podcast series on The Conversation Weekly. Featuring interviews with Mashupye Maserumule and Michael Sachs.
Public confidence in the Constitutional Court is key to its legitimacy.
Felix Dlangamandla/AFP via Getty Images.
The court covered itself in glory in the first 15 years, but its performance has been patchy since then, coinciding with Jacob Zuma’s presidency.
The April 1994 international mediation team in South Africa, with Washington Okumu sitting between the US’s Henry Kissinger and the UK’s Peter Carrington.
Washington Okumu, reused by Nancy J. Jacobs with permission
In a matter of days, one Kenyan’s intervention helped give South Africa a peaceful transition to its first post-apartheid government.
Nelson Mandela takes the oath as South Africa’s president in Pretoria on 10 May 1994.
Walter Dhladhla/AFP via Getty Images
A lot of good has happened since apartheid ended in 1994. Sadly, 30 years on, the country is in a political and economic crisis. Many are questioning the choices of the past three decades.
Jacob Zuma at the launch of his new party, uMkhonto Wesizwe, in 2023.
Fani Mahuntsi/Gallo Images via Getty Images
The ANC tied itself in knots defending Zuma’s destructive bad behaviour in the past. Acting against him now would require it to own up to its sins.
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the Cairo Summit for Peace in October 2023.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s messages, and tone of delivery, suggest an assertive leader representing the interests of the global south.
Aziz Pahad in Tehran in 2004. He was South Africa’s deputy foreign minister at the time.
Henghameh Fahimi/AFP via Getty images
South Africa will miss having a “diplomat-scholar” of his calibre to turn to for sage advice.
Essop Pahad was a confidant of former president Thabo Mbeki.
Bongani Mnguni/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images
When Essop Pahad was given a job, he did it efficiently. He surprised even his critics with his diligence.
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie (C) and Ghana’s founder and first President Kwame Nkrumah (L) during the formation of the Organisation of African Unity.
STR/AFP via Getty Images
The African Union compares well to other continental unions. It accomplishes more than the Commonwealth or the Francophonie.
Chris Hani (R) after being elected secretary general of the South African Communist Party in December 1991. To his left is the former secretary general Jo Slovo.
Walter Dhladhla/AFP via Getty Images
The book is a gripping read for anyone interested in late 20th century history, and in the end of apartheid.
Paul Mashatile, the deputy president of South Africa.
Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images
Mashatile could be the new broom that sweeps clean. Ramaphosa’s apparent confidence in him suggests that he has some latitude to do so.
Achieving greater transparency and accountability in democratic governance and in capitalist economics must occur simultaneously.
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Raymond W. Baker says the estimated hundreds of billions of dollars in hidden wealth a decade ago has skyrocketed to trillions today.
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa.
South Africa’s foreign policy under Ramaphosa emphasises economic diplomacy and ‘progressive internationalism’, which promotes global equity and ending the dominance of the global north.
Loyalists of the ANC’s Radical Economic Transformation (RET) at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban.
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP via Getty Images
Despite its vagueness, the RET has become central to the contemporary ANC. It is destined to remain a powerful bloc within the party, and a constant constraint on Ramaphosa leadership.
A replica of the famous Linton Panel.
Courtesy Rock Art Research Institute/Origins Centre
A new exhibition in Johannesburg focuses on the beliefs and paintings of the San people.
South Africa’s democratic era presidents, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe, Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa.
Penguin Random House South Africa
Mandela, the first president of a democratic South Africa, made big strategic choices – not necessarily the right ones, but certainly ones that were befitting of the times.
Protesters and police clash during a march against illegal immigrants in South Africa.
Alet Pretorius/Gallo Images/Getty Images
Scapegoating immigrants will not result in significantly improved healthcare service provision, reduced crime or less unemployment.
ANC supporters show support for corruption accused and suspended party secretary general Ace Magashule outside court in Bleomfontein.
EFE-EPA/Conrad Bornman
To his credit, former South African president Thabo Mbeki set up anti-corruption institutions that survived his own efforts to erode them.
Disinformation can derail public health measures vital to controlling the spread of infectious disease.
AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
The spread of misinformation in many pandemics, including the smallpox and 1918 influenza outbreaks, have undermined efforts to contain infections and prevent deaths.
Thandi Modise, South Africa’s defence minister.
Michal Fludra/NurPhoto via Getty Images
South Africa’s foreign policy is supposed to be guided by the principle of ubuntu (humanness), so a visit to an aggressor is hard to explain.