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Democracy

Leaders abuse governance to control citizens
Article
/ 17 November 2017

Leaders abuse governance to control citizens

The parallel regimes of new and cherry-picked traditions present a hurdle to democratic success

By William Gumede
Africa leads the way in election technology, but there’s a long way to go
Africa
/ 8 October 2017

Africa leads the way in election technology, but there’s a long way to go

African democracies are embracing electronic voting far more confidently than the West.

By Stephen Chan
Daring to be black in a white space
Article
/ 29 September 2017

Daring to be black in a white space

"White people don’t know the violence of being forced to forgive"

By Editorial
Editorial: Cops are shooting down democracy
Article
/ 15 September 2017

Editorial: Cops are shooting down democracy

Have South Africans become inured to heavy-handed police action in response to protests, as it did during apartheid and back in the colonial conquest?

By Editorial
Literary bent to hip-hop’s Democracy & Delusion
Article
/ 18 August 2017

Literary bent to hip-hop’s Democracy & Delusion

Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh’s dual release of a politically charged record and book was influenced by his father.

By Govan Whittles
Editorial: Don’t break the system for just one victory
Article
/ 11 August 2017

Editorial: Don’t break the system for just one victory

Our myopic opposition parties are steering us into dangerous waters, and their efforts are too often being cheered on

By Editorial
Art of listening is at heart of true democracy
Analysis
/ 4 August 2017

Art of listening is at heart of true democracy

South Africa’s rising authoritarian leaders hide behind the rhetoric of  ‘the people’

By Richard Pithouse
Honest confrontation is needed
Article
/ 14 July 2017

Honest confrontation is needed

"Bell Pottinger did not invent our racial mess. It worked out an unethical propaganda campaign that takes advantage of it"

By Eusebius McKaiser
Why the public protector is dangerously wrong
Analysis
/ 20 June 2017

Why the public protector is dangerously wrong

"The public protector wants to rob a democratically-elected government of a central function."

By Eusebius McKaiser
Democracy is key to economic success
Analysis
/ 19 May 2017

Democracy is key to economic success

Research shows that authoritarian states are unlikely to deliver the growth needed for economic viability

By Staff Reporter
Why wearing black won’t cut it
Analysis
/ 7 April 2017

Why wearing black won’t cut it

"How am I contributing to the sociopolitical climate of this country within my own sphere of influence?"

By Staff Reporter
SA’s democratic foundations shaken
Article
/ 7 April 2017

SA’s democratic foundations shaken

There is a more dangerous reality here that we all have to take extremely seriously.

By Eusebius McKaiser
​Jerry Springer-esque Parliament standoffs essential in strengthening democracy
Article
/ 13 February 2017

​Jerry Springer-esque Parliament standoffs essential in strengthening democracy

While the brawls can’t be condoned, they are a perfect indication of the multiplicity of views that exist in our Parliament.

By Given Sigauqwe
Editorial: Zuma’s fears erode democracy
Article
/ 10 February 2017

Editorial: Zuma’s fears erode democracy

The president is fighting for power. And it’s not just against his deputy for the future leadership of the ANC.

By Editorial
Can South Africans be friends across ‘racial’ boundaries? Yes and no.
Article
/ 2 December 2016

Can South Africans be friends across ‘racial’ boundaries? Yes and no.

Young black South Africans have been raised to believe that friendship across the races is an indicator of progress. Now, they are questioning this.

By Sisonke Msimang
Don’t wait for a beautiful leader South Africa, rather rely on the Constitution
Article
/ 16 November 2016

Don’t wait for a beautiful leader South Africa, rather rely on the Constitution

The Constitution is SA’s greatest tribute to the people who died in the struggle for liberation, writes former Constitutional Court judge Albie Sachs.

By Staff Reporter
Editorial: Nation protests, but violence is no solution
Article
/ 30 September 2016

Editorial: Nation protests, but violence is no solution

The road to a participatory democracy is being obscured by the easy use of violence by all parties in South Africa.

By Editorial
Editorial: True democracy eludes the ANC
Article
/ 23 September 2016

Editorial: True democracy eludes the ANC

The ANC has been accused of lacking sufficient internal democracy, and failing to develop the mechanisms of democracy in South Africa.

By Editorial
Democracy is taking a beating as right-wing forces consolidate their grip on power
Analysis
/ 20 July 2016

Democracy is taking a beating as right-wing forces consolidate their grip on power

But it’s not impossible that movements working to bring about a fairer and more equitable world order could begin to turn the tide.

By Richard Pithouse
What it means to live in a dumbocracy – and why I prefer a pretentious elitist to a dangerous populist
Article
/ 30 June 2016

What it means to live in a dumbocracy – and why I prefer a pretentious elitist to a dangerous populist

For a democracy to function properly, all the clever people should drown out all the dumb people with sound arguments, says Hansie Smit.

By Staff Reporter
More parties are contesting the local government elections than ever before at a record-breaking 200
Article
/ 29 June 2016

More parties are contesting the local government elections than ever before at a record-breaking 200

A record 200 parties, 65% more than in 2011, will contest the August 3 elections.

By Staff Reporter
Low oil prices: An opportunity to set democratic frameworks 
for governing oil resources
Article
/ 16 May 2016

Low oil prices: An opportunity to set democratic frameworks for governing oil resources

The more inclusive the consensus on how to manage oil resources in truly democratic
ways, the better for investors’ profit in the long term.

By Staff Reporter
Nkandla ruling is a short, sharp lesson in democracy
Analysis
/ 6 May 2016

Nkandla ruling is a short, sharp lesson in democracy

The Constitutional Court’s judgment on Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla demonstrates the difficulties facing the continent, argues Bheki Makhubu.

By Staff Reporter
Democracy is a joke, says China – look at Trump
Article
/ 17 March 2016

Democracy is a joke, says China – look at Trump

Upheaval elsewhere, and particularly when it underscores the perils and pitfalls of democracy, easily becomes frontpage news in China.

By Tom Phillips and Christy Yao
Evita leads by example: ‘I am a racist’
Analysis
/ 24 February 2016

Evita leads by example: ‘I am a racist’

Instead of bitching about the problems, be part of the solution, says the ex-ambassador to Bapetikosweti, Evita Bezuidenhout.

By Staff Reporter
Meleko Mokgosi: The quiet violence of fading to white
Article
/ 29 January 2016

Meleko Mokgosi: The quiet violence of fading to white

Artist Meleko Mokgosi explores the ruse of democracy and the agency of individuals within it.

By Kwanele Sosibo
African democracy update: Satisfaction remains elusive for many
Africa
/ 16 September 2015

African democracy update: Satisfaction remains elusive for many

Across 28 countries, only 46% of citizens say they are "very satisfied" or "fairly satisfied" with the way democracy works in their countries.

By Thomas Bentley
Deluded ANC fell short of true liberation
Analysis
/ 23 August 2015

Deluded ANC fell short of true liberation

The party misjudged the power of capitalism, selling out those it had pledged to free.

By Staff Reporter
From the ashes of democracy, tyranny rises
Article
/ 27 February 2015

From the ashes of democracy, tyranny rises

A free nation dare not allow the independence of the courts and the media to ever be compromised.

By Staff Reporter
South Africa: Post the State of the Nation Address
Article
/ 23 February 2015

South Africa: Post the State of the Nation Address

South Africans must stand together in multitudes to hold politicians accountable for disrespecting our democratic institutions before the whole world.

By Staff Reporter
We have forgotten Tata’s lessons
Article
/ 11 December 2014

We have forgotten Tata’s lessons

The jubilation bought about by the end of apartheid has caused us to stray from the path of reconciliation.

By Staff Reporter
Is it really springtime in Africa?
Analysis
/ 28 November 2014

Is it really springtime in Africa?

A far longer, rich history of Africa’s civil uprisings is often missing in the analysis of today’s protests.

By Mohamed keita
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