Creator
Roger Southall is an Emeritus Professor in Sociology at the University of the Witwatersrand.
An examination of how Jan Smuts and Nelson Mandela navigated the challenges of their eras
The late British monarch played a low-key role in helping to keep the commonwealth together through many disputes about race
After 28 years of democracy, South Africa is having to reform its political party-based electoral system to make it fairer
South African politics is in a state of flux which must necessarily result in a realignment of political forces
The pattern is now well established: crisis, intervention, promises by the Zanu-PF regime to behave, and then relapse after a decent interval to the sort of behaviour that…
Since the demand for resources far outmatches the patronage available, Lesotho’s political arena has become brutally competitive
The Democratic Alliance’s problems can be traced back to the politicisation of race, which has persisted even after the dawn of democracy in 1994
The current crisis in British politics is significant for countries like South Africa where a change in electoral systems is needed
Polls indicate that voters are unlikely to abandon the African National Congress
Unexpressed racism may be even more dangerous if it’s left lurking below the surface
Cyril Ramaphosa has done well so far but more challenges relating to reigniting the economy lie ahead.
‘The approach of Day Zero has put Capetonians into panic mode and suburbia is getting distinctly nervous’
President Jacob Zuma’s resistance to vacate the top job may be a blessing in disguise as it will stress test the country’s political systems.
Ramaphosa should do more than simply ensure that he replaces Zuma immediately.
Changing the system to allow for direct election would require SA to look carefully at how a directly elected president should be held accountable.
The unfolding misfortunes of the Zimbabwean president hold key lessons for his South African counterpart who faces the possibility of a forced exit.
Zanu-PF’s Alice in Wonderland financial system is evoking déjà vu. We know how it ends, don’t we?
Years of political instability and economic mismanagement under the rule of ZANU-PF have left Zimbabwe’s financial system in chaos
Britain’s Labour Party is anticipating the making of a new social revolution but the ANC is in disarray with no moral compass or credible leadership
Should MPs have the right to vote according to their conscience?
