Vol 54 No 23 | SOUTH AFRICA Self-inflicted wounds 14th November 2013 Many of South Africa’s difficulties are primarily internal, caused by policy paralysis and the governing African National Congress (ANC)’s intense disputes with its par...
Vol 54 No 20 | SOUTH AFRICA Political mould starts to break 3rd October 2013 The poorest people and the middle class are voicing growing doubts about the ANC – even though its rivals don’t look much more convincing The African National Congress approaches elections next April-May – and the 20th anniversary of majority rule – with party and country alike in poor shape. Social and e...
Vol 54 No 20 | SOUTH AFRICA How the parties will go into 2014 3rd October 2013 If the Economic Freedom Fighters took just 5% of the national vote, that could be a significant and lasting breakthrough None of the opposition parties can seriously challenge the African National Congress for power at the centre in the next elections but growing political volatility gives them oppor...
Vol 54 No 20 | SOUTH AFRICA Coming to the aid of the party 3rd October 2013 In New York, President Zuma sings Happy Birthday to ANC Chairwoman Baleka Mbete, who is currently at the centre of a major political row On the evening of 24 September in New York, President Jacob Zuma was in high spirits. Earlier that day, he had addressed the United Nations General Assembly debate in which South A...
Vol 54 No 17 | SOUTH AFRICA Sexual congress 22nd August 2013 The suspension of Congress of South African Trade Unions Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi on 14 August, after he admitted to sexual misconduct with a Cosatu employee in his office...
Vol 54 No 16 | SOUTH AFRICA Tilting at the ANC 30th July 2013 The EFF seeks to appeal to leftists disappointed by the ANC. Its main impact for now will be on the ANC’s internal politics The deposed leader of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has staked a claim to political space well to the left of the governing party. Julius Malema aims to bring ...
Vol 54 No 15 | SOUTH AFRICA Zuma's axe falls 18th July 2013 The pace of President Jacob Zuma’s cull of his opponents in the African National Congress is picking up as he lays the groundwork for next year’s general elections (AC ...
Vol 54 No 9 | CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLICSOUTH AFRICA Pleas to go 26th April 2013 President Jacob Zuma puzzled his central African interlocutors and CAR politicians by claiming they had made a ‘passionate plea’ for South African troops to return to the troubled ...
Vol 54 No 8 | SOUTH AFRICA ANC wields the long knives 12th April 2013 The governing party and its partners quarrel bitterly as Zuma clears out his opponents, regardless of the consequences President Jacob Zuma and his allies have begun their long-awaited purge of trades unionists, party members and government officials judged to have opposed him at the African Nation...
Vol 54 No 8 | SOUTH AFRICA Blade's think-tank regiment 12th April 2013 Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande may be moving to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to replace Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. This is under serious conside...
