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Succession and subversion

For some time now there has been a sustained discourse on "succession". Because Thabo Mbeki is constitutionally prohibited from another term as president of the country, the person likely to succeed him must be "identified" in advance in order to facilitate a smooth transition. Or so we are told, writes Monde Nkasawe.

We're South Africans and we're here to stay

Dear delegates to the 52nd national conference of the ANC, This December you will be discussing issues of paramount importance for all South Africans. Allow the Afrikanerbond to raise some issues that we believe are necessary to ensure that the miracle of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's "rainbow nation" does not fade.

To complete the revolution

There is an ANC branch in Randburg named after the late Bram Fischer. Recently it held a gala dinner to celebrate being named the best performing ANC branch of the year. The branch takes its work seriously. It has an impressive recruitment programme in an area of Johannesburg not generally regarded as an ANC stronghold.

Umshini Wami echoes through SA

Some call it brainless, others inappropriate in the post-apartheid era but Jacob Zuma, the new leader of the African National Congress, is in no mood to stop singing his signature Umshini Wami. "If you erase the songs, you erase the record of history," said Zuma of the anthem.

Shake-up in ANC national executive

The African National Congress's (ANC) new, 80-member national executive committee was announced at the end of the party's 52nd national conference in Polokwane at midnight on Thursday evening. Topping the list with 2 845 votes (out of 3 605 votes cast) was Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

Aids crisis looms for ANC ahead of vote

HIV/Aids has driven a wedge between the leadership and rank-and-file of the ruling African National Congress, with top officials accused of ignorance and activists aghast at the government's handling of the pandemic. President Thabo Mbeki and his former deputy, Jacob Zuma have both been burned politically by the HIV/Aids crisis.

Youth league says it won't ask Mbeki to step down

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) will not ask President Thabo Mbeki to step down as a nominee for the top leadership position in the ruling party. "We have got no right to ask anybody who has been nominated to step down. It's undemocratic," ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula said in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Zuma thrives on Mbeki blunders

It would have seemed all but unthinkable two years ago, but Jacob Zuma appears set to become leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC). Despite being dogged by graft allegations, analysts say he has patiently capitalised on the political blunders of his rival, President Thabo Mbeki, to win overwhelming support.

'Dignity, discipline' on road to Polokwane

No individual's opinion on who should be elected to the African National Congress' national leadership took precedence in Gauteng, the party's new provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile said on Tuesday. Mashatile, reportedly a backer of ANC presidential hopeful Tokyo Sexwale, beat Angie Motshekga in the race to become chairperson at the conference on Sunday.

The Women's League soils its legacy

To say that the ANC Women's League's choice of presidential candidate leaves much to be desired would be a significant understatement. When the country's most powerful women's collective decides to back a man who has expressed some of the most irresponsible and retrograde views on women and sexuality, the rest of South Africa needs to ask some ­difficult questions, writes Pumla Dineo Gqola.