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richard callandlatest news & developments
The IEC is expecting a higher voter turnout than the 2019 elections. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Expected high voter turnout a nod to political parties, says IEC

The disillusionment in the country’s political system resulting in low 2021 local election turnout numbers has seemingly dissipated

Theatre luminaries, David Dennis, Michael Richard, and Zane Meas lead the cast alongside Astrid Braaf, Ziaphora Dakile and Melissa Haiden. They are guided by The Market Theatre’s award-winning Artistic Director, Greg Homann, who is celebrated for his cutting-edge direction of new South African work.  The production is designed by Lisa Younger with filmmaker Xolelwa ‘Ollie’ Nhlabatsi bringing a dynamic multi-media element to the production. Photo by Suzy Bernstein

Columnist Calland captures state capture for stage

A new play by a new playwright explores shenanigans in South Africa’s politics

Former Democratic Alliance MP Phumzile van Damme. Photo: Esa Alexander/Sunday Times

Not playing … what happened to the role models?

Playwright Richard Calland describes the main character “Uncle” as being a Mac Maharaj-like figure with other ANC-types thrown into the mix

The Brothers, Number One and a Weekend Special sports a strong cast, with the main characters Uncle (David Dennis), Tim Bell (Michael Richard) and the lawyer (Zane Meas), standing out. Photo by Suzy Bernstein

Aficionado notes brilliant use of music in state capture play

The political drama about corruption and power is clever, gripping and insightful

National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said on Tuesday advocate Mahlape Sello would replace Professor Richard Calland on the three-person panel that will determine whether there is prima facie evidence to institute an impeachment inquiry against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Calland replaced on section 89 panel on Phala Phala

This follows a submission to parliament’s speaker by the law professor and commentator that the process is more important than objections about his objectivity

Former MP Tony Yengeni. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

Yengeni’s complaint against Zondo is legally uncertain

The chief justice was acting in a non-judicial capacity when chairing the state capture inquiry, so the complaint probably falls outside the law but underscores the risk of…

President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Lulama Zenzile/Die Burger/Gallo)

Ramaphosa walked into a ‘political ambush’ on chief justice appointment

The JSC exceeded its mandate to place the president in a corner in which exercising his wide powers to select the next chief justice have become fettered by popular concerns

M&G Thought Leaders’ top books of 2021

The Mail & Guardian asked a few of the regular contributors to the ThoughtLeader platform to give us their views on the top three books they read this year

Uncovering the rot: Merely being able to watch Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo do his commission’s work live on TV has already affected how South Africans demand accountability, experts say. (Felix Dlangamandla/Gallo Images/Netwerk24)

SA received Zondo’s real gift well before Christmas

A too narrow focus on the number of convictions from the final report of the state capture commission will mean a failure to see the impact it has already had

Too little protection: Slain corruption fighter Babita Deokaran was not safe after making disclosures relating to personal protective equipment fraud at the Gauteng health department. (Fani Mahuntsi/Gallo Images)

Protected Disclosures Act: How did whistleblowing law go wrong?

Current legislation mainly protects employees and those who make allegations anonymously and offers too little protection for witnesses

(John McCann/M&G)

Ramaphosa’s panel calls for end to coal, but who’ll fund it?

Like unfinished flyovers in Cape Town, global climate finance and domestic demand often don’t meet up

X marked the spot: Cyril Ramaphosa is repairing the damage of the Zuma years

Backstabbers limit Ramaphosa

The ANC is stronger electorally but is still too weak to help the president make the decisions the country’s many crises demand

(John McCann/M&G)

DA, EFF lack the muscle to keep the ANC in check

And their travails strengthen the scoundrel hand of the anti-Ramaphosa wing of the ruling party

Political leadership is in a mess (Photo Archive)

Political leadership is in a mess

Ironically enough, a potent drive for reform of the capitalist system will come from the private sector

The heat is on to find global saviours (Photo Archive)

The heat is on to find global saviours

We face a current crisis unlike any other in history — this one affects everyone everywhere

(John McCann/M&G)

Cyril must show who is boss – quickly

There is no time for indecisiveness – the president is up against thugs and needs to muscle up to win

Busisiwe Mkhwebane has submitted that the constitutional court made “patent errors” in the judgment, which confirmed that the rules adopted by a section 194 parliamentary committee for the conduct of the impeachment inquiry were lawful, barring one. (David Harrison/M&G)

Getting rid of Mkhwebane won’t be easy

Different factions with vested interests are aligning to protect the destructive protector

Ramaphosa himself is not unaware of the political impossibility of the fantasy of a return to the way things were before Zuma, but now with added austerity, writes the author. (David Harrison/M&G)

Failure to fix the economy will undo Cyril

The president can get rid of the loathsome political figures but he can’t control everything

Even in the best-case scenario for the opposition, the ruling party will continue to maintain a healthy control over the nation’s politics. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

A tale of two countries in uncertain days

It is the best of times, the worst of times, but also the most dangerous of times for South Africa and Britain

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s hours-long delayed trip on a crowded commuter train  made international headlines (John McCann)

Is Cyril on a slow train to nowhere?

In a country desperate for solutions, the electorate is indifferent and parties are fighting themselves