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Public commentary:  Many analysts are preferred by some media houses because they are dependable in their framing regardless of the issue under discussion, the analytical trajectory is often remarkably similar. Screen shot courtesy of SABC

Political analysts and the dearth of sound public discourse

Whenever a major political development occurs, audiences are often presented with a familiar cast of commentators. A relatively small group of commentators often appears across…

March past: A Cosatu demonstration in Johannesburg last year. Photo: Papi Morake/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Government of national unity: Political shift tests Cosatu’s influence

The labour movement helped end apartheid and usher in Mandela’s coalition government. Its currently diminished position is cause for anxiety as the ANC forges new political…

Some blame labour protections and unions for South Africa’s economic malaise. But this claim lacks evidence and stands to leave us in an even worse position. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy, M&G

Elections 2024: Don’t pick the scabs

Some blame labour protections and unions for South Africa’s economic malaise. But this claim lacks evidence and stands to leave us in an even worse position This content is…

(Graphic: John McCann/M&G)

Everybody wants white privilege

History teaches us the dangers of one group of people claiming moral authority over the rights of another and Israel should take note

Death march: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commemorate Jews deported from Berlin in 1942, in March 2023. Photo: Tobias Schwarz/AFP

Understanding Jewishness

An edited extract from South African writer Steven Friedman’s new book ‘Good Jew, Bad Jew’

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile.

Could the SARB sink Ramaphosa?

With re-election as ANC leader seemingly assured, there are questions about the impact of the exchange control probe by the central bank

In an episode of The Burning Platform podcast, the host, Gareth Cliff asserted that racism was not a priority in the 1 November local elections and claimed that no one was interested in identity politics.

Cliff and Steenhuisen are wrong. Here’s why race matters in South Africa

Both the podcast host and the leader of the Democratic Alliance believe in a toothless non-racialism that ignores the historical foundation of racism and the pain it inflicts in…

The landscape of technology-driven elections is fast mutating. With the current deficits, there is a need for adequate digital skills if Africa is to be recognised for effective handling of elections.

The democratic process of voting was wearing thin before lockdown

The number of adults who didn’t vote in the 2019 elections reflects citizens’ disenchantment with their representatives. Perhaps Covid-19 presents government with the chance to…

The gold standard is complete suppression of the virus, which can be done without massive economic disruption by using rapid testing, effective contact tracing and complete isolation of infected cases. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Coronavirus: What lies ahead?

The coronavirus pandemic places moral, economic, and political questions before us. Only two answers remain: socialism or barbarism

Twenty-five years ago,  South Africa went to the polls in elections that would bring Nelson Mandela to power. (Walter Dhladla/AFP)

Democracy needs to be democratised

Too few South Africans are able to participate in systems that allow their voices to be heard

(Graphic: John McCann/M&G)

Battle of ideas in the newsroom

Journalist Sibonelo Radebe’s death has robbed the industry of the kind of thinker it sorely needs

(John McCann/M&G)

Nothing fuzzy about complexity

Biological traits and social constructions play a part in our nuanced relations with each other

Confused: Many South Africans are woefully unaware of the nitty-grittys of the electoral systems at play

Electoral knowledge: Is Steven Friedman the only person in SA who gets the PR system?

Given the befuddlement of voters (and politicians) on August 3, perhaps it’s time a course in politics is made compulsory.

Political analyst Steven Friedman says “the commissioner must resign”.

Phiyega must resign – Friedman

Political analyst Steven Friedman says Riah Phiyega should quit and political parties welcome the findings and recommendations of the Marikana report.

Marxism of a special type

His dissident views made him a renegade communist, but a new biography confirms Harold Wolpe as an influential radical voice.

Analysts ponder ANC Limpopo elections

Analysts have disagreed whether this weekend’s Limpopo ANC election will be influenced by a power struggle between factions of the ruling party.

‘Goldstone was bullied into recanting’

‘Goldstone was bullied into recanting’

Judge Goldstone’s partial recantation of a UN-sponsored report on Israel’s invasion of Gaza has divided the local Jewry amid claims he was "bullied".

Court hears decision on Zuma’s case is reviewable

Religion ‘must not be used for canvassing votes’

A number of organisations have made their voices heard over comments by President Jacob Zuma equating a vote for the ANC to a pass to heaven.

‘Constitution does not solve problems in themselves’

The Constitution was not a "miracle law" and should not be used to solve problems that we cannot solve ourselves, Professor Steven Friedman said.

Political accountability SA’s real challenge, says analyst

Political accountability and effective governance will be South Africa’s real challenges, political analyst Steven Friedman told farmers on Wednesday.