Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
Pranish Desai

Creator

Pranish Desai

Pranish Desai is a ​data​ analyst within the governance insights and analytics programme at Good Governance Africa. His research interests include African governance, quantitative social analysis, and political geography.

With the ANC failing to win the majority of votes, a national coalition will now govern South Africa. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Ensuring stability and accountability during the coalitions era

The failure of coalitions in metros demonstrates the need for transparent and publicly available agreements

Free at last: The period from1994 to 2008 was an era of rethinking and reimagining South Africa, and constructing practical programmes to dismantle apartheid architecture.  Photo: David Turnley/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

Effective governance crucial for sustaining South Africa’s democracy

The nation is in a far better place than it was when apartheid ended. But what is also true is multiple spheres of government struggle to deal with societal problems and service…

StatsSA has been transparent about the fact that the national census undercount for people was just over 31%, substantively higher than the norm in countries that have similar statistical capacities.

Don’t take transparent governance institutions for granted

They are vital for providing indispensable information on indicators ranging from leadership quality to human resources management and financial malfeasance

President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo: Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg via Getty Images

SONA must reflect Ramaphosa’s ultimate duty

The president needs to expound on how democratically accountable governance remains key to addressing governance failures, beyond any single election

Officials in Nairobi from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission register a voter for the Kenyan elections in 2022. (Simon Maina/AFP)

Why data matters for good governance

The effective use of data leads to better policy-making and advances governance, democracy and human rights

Amandla ngawethu! Realism and idealism informed Nelson Mandela’s pursuit of reconciliation and nation building, the writer says. (Photo by © Louise Gubb/CORBIS SABA/Corbis via Getty Images)

Mandela’s persisting potency

Madiba’s dream of national unity refuses to die decades after he was our first democratic leader

(John McCann/M&G)

South African needs an independent panel on party coalitions

In this new era of coalition politics, there needs to be a healthy balance between legal and institutional frameworks

(John McCann/M&G)

ANC conference: Phala Phala must not detract from critical governance issues

South Africa is likely to have coalition governments at every level so the ANC – and opposition parties – must prepare for this

A protester reacts as Reigers Park community members protest outside the municipal offices over service delivery and housing issues on March 9, 2017 in Boksburg, South Africa. (Photo by JOHN WESSELS / AFP)

The private sector can help ensure local-level stability in South Africa

At the forefront of debates about the functioning of local government is a question of stability. This discourse is dominated by the attention given to political aspects of…

Contest: In the 2004 national elections the ANC received almost 70% of the vote, with Thabo Mbeki becoming the party’s leader at the 2002 ANC conference. (Photo by ALEXANDER JOE / AFP)

Danger ahead as ANC declines with no democratic alternative

About 50% of South Africans say they would relinquish their voting rights if an effective government was guaranteed

Photo by Delwyn Verasamy/M&G

Data is a vital tool to help uplift societies

Measures of the state of governance can flag regression and show where change is needed

No service: People living in Mamafubedu in the Free State must carry full sewage buckets to the veld and empty them there. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Local government must prioritise indigent households

Local government must prioritise indigent households in terms of providing water, electricity, sewerage and solid waste services but need to improve how they identify these…

Health surveillance workers in Malawi focus on under-fives and pregnant mothers

Four lessons from good policymaking in Africa

Instead of only focusing on what went wrong, analysing policies that have improved people’s lives helps governments NGOs in other actions

South Africa’s role in helping improve statistical capacity in Africa

Why Census 2022 matters

South Africa’s role in helping improve statistical capacity in Africa

A report by United Nations special rapporteur Irene Khan into the status of freedom of expression in Zambia says that important steps have been taken to promote freedom of expression in Zambia since 2021. (Marco Longari/AFP)

Getting back the elusive youth vote

South African youths are as disengaged politically as their international siblings. To change this, youth need to be represented as party candidates and employed in local…