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Democracy

What does democracy mean in Africa?
Thought Leader
/ 15 September 2023

What does democracy mean in Africa?

‘In the house of the just those who command are at the service of those who seem the commanded’

By Ursula van Beek
America’s democracy is in danger
Thought Leader
/ 5 September 2023

America’s democracy is in danger

The United States would love to be seen as the arbiter of global democratic values but it needs to set right its own borders

By Nontobeko Hlela
What makes an election free and fair elections
Opinion
/ 22 August 2023

What makes an election free and fair elections

The importance of legitimate polls cannot be overstated for democracy to exist

By Joseph LM Mugore
Geopolitical epoch: Not an Arab Spring but a French Winter?
Thought Leader
/ 11 August 2023

Geopolitical epoch: Not an Arab Spring but a French Winter?

At the core of the Sahel coups is the removal of governments and leaders either historically not in support of the US/France or moving away from external domination

By Donovan E Williams
Reviving the spirit of unity and hope: A call for an active citizenry in South Africa
Partner Content
/ 11 August 2023

Reviving the spirit of unity and hope: A call for an active citizenry in South Africa

Let us fight against despondency, retain our hope and exercise our democratic right to vote

By Special Reports
The self-immolation of America’s democracy
Thought Leader
/ 6 July 2023

The self-immolation of America’s democracy

The politicalisation of the supreme court is sending the United States down a dangerous path

By Songezo Zibi
Zimbabwe’s hope: A wind of change to democracy
Opinion
/ 5 July 2023

Zimbabwe’s hope: A wind of change to democracy

The country shed colonial and white rule but ushered in Robert Mugabe and then his vice-president, Emerson Mnangagwa, bringing with them the rise of a new authoritarianism

By Kuda Manjonjo
How to resolve SA’s political accountability crisis
Thought Leader
/ 5 July 2023

How to resolve SA’s political accountability crisis

Citizens suffer when the state is not held to account and directly electing MPs and members of the provincial legislature could solve this.

By Pranish Desai and Mxolisi Zondo
Trust – the ‘glue’ that binds society together – is missing in SA
Opinion
/ 3 July 2023

Trust – the ‘glue’ that binds society together – is missing in SA

According to polling data, South Africans do not sufficiently trust their fellow compatriots

By Daryl Swanepoel
Youth for Parliament: South Africa needs intergenerational leadership
Opinion
/ 15 June 2023

Youth for Parliament: South Africa needs intergenerational leadership

Political parties and voters need to understand that a fundamental principle of democracy is that political systems should represent the desires and best interests of all citizens

By Karabo Mokgonyana
Time ticks for three horsemen of dystopia – Zuma, Trump and Boris
Thought Leader
/ 14 June 2023

Time ticks for three horsemen of dystopia – Zuma, Trump and Boris

The past week has been a good week. All three have suffered serious setbacks, as they have once again been exposed as the cowards they truly are, for all the bravado

By Richard Calland
Magic formula: Maimane, Mashaba and Zibi working together
Thought Leader
/ 13 June 2023

Magic formula: Maimane, Mashaba and Zibi working together

The democratic revolution requires a collective effort that goes beyond the ambitions of individual parties or leaders

By Zimkhitha Manyana
Senegal’s democracy hangs in the balance
Thought Leader
/ 9 June 2023

Senegal’s democracy hangs in the balance

The West African country is at a critical juncture, where the aspirations of its people are being trampled upon

By Nyasha Mcbride Mpani
Eusebius McKaiser: A democratic intellectual
Opinion
/ 5 June 2023

Eusebius McKaiser: A democratic intellectual

As a thinker he enriched our public life, encouraging seriousness and inviting his audience into public discussion rather than the mere observation of spectacle

By Richard Pithouse
South Africa: A state for the few, not the many
Opinion
/ 3 May 2023

South Africa: A state for the few, not the many

Between them, the kleptocrats and the neoliberals protect the privilege of the few against the claims for justice on the part of the many

By Vashna Jagarnath
How South Africa can prepare itself for coalition governance
Opinion
/ 20 April 2023

How South Africa can prepare itself for coalition governance

Advanced democracies with coalition governments and strong committees understand the necessity of developing rules and institutions to mitigate executive unaccountability

By Karabo Mokgonyana
Wither the future of democracy?
Opinion
/ 14 April 2023

Wither the future of democracy?

In a changing world it cannot be business as usual for human rights and democracy thinkers

By Johann van der Westhuizen
DA is preparing for unrest should ANC lose power in 2024
Politics
/ 1 April 2023

DA is preparing for unrest should ANC lose power in 2024

Official opposition says it should lead the process to develop a declaration for a peaceful transition and approach the international community for oversight

By Lizeka Tandwa
Partyocracy: a thin line between oligarchy and demagoguery
Opinion
/ 25 March 2023

Partyocracy: a thin line between oligarchy and demagoguery

Ruling party’s failure to address urgent issues – like unemployment, water and electricity, crime and corruption – has created a leadership vacuum

By Zimkhitha Manyana
Ramaphosa: SA must address social issues to uphold Constitution
National
/ 22 March 2023

Ramaphosa: SA must address social issues to uphold Constitution

The president tells conference problems such as land reform, crime, corruption, poor governance and the weak economy are undermining people’s rights

By Mandisa Ndlovu
South Africa’s market-led democracy undermines human rights
Opinion
/ 21 March 2023

South Africa’s market-led democracy undermines human rights

Deepening economic democracy through human rights-centred economic and social policy frameworks

By Khwezi Mabasa
Why young people must vote in the 2024 national elections
Opinion
/ 11 March 2023

Why young people must vote in the 2024 national elections

It is important to directly speak to young South Africans to inform them why it is important to vote

By Karabo Mokgonyana
Spin dictators: SA needs ‘no more lies, no easy victories’
Opinion
/ 27 February 2023

Spin dictators: SA needs ‘no more lies, no easy victories’

The active resistance of the electorate is what remains to prevent leaders from subverting checking mechanisms and tipping the country into spin dictatorship

By Sansia Blackmore
Ramaphosa: South Africa’s greylisting is an opportunity to strengthen the fight against financial crimes
National
/ 27 February 2023

Ramaphosa: South Africa’s greylisting is an opportunity to strengthen the fight against financial crimes

In his weekly newsletter, the president argues that he welcomes the intensified monitoring by FATF

By Cyril Ramaphosa
South Africa must rethink how to frame problems and solutions
Opinion
/ 25 January 2023

South Africa must rethink how to frame problems and solutions

Lessons from China and Norway on how capacities can be channelled to deliver on priorities and ensure activity with notable outcomes

By Mzukisi Qobo
Eskom sacrificed for other social needs and ideological hang-ups
Opinion
/ 22 January 2023

Eskom sacrificed for other social needs and ideological hang-ups

The government was advised by Eskom executives to invest in infrastructure to replace old power plants and to meet increased demand

By Mcebisi Ndletyana
Roadmap to get public services and infrastructure back on track
Opinion
/ 19 January 2023

Roadmap to get public services and infrastructure back on track

As SA’s democracy heads towards 30 years, we need to critically assess what needs to be done differently to become Madiba’s miracle nation

By Subesh Pillay
In the US, 2022 was a year of right-wing attacks. What lies ahead?
Opinion
/ 9 January 2023

In the US, 2022 was a year of right-wing attacks. What lies ahead?

It’s a rocky road to a functional democratic future for the United States, but fighting injustice is a long-term task

By Chrissy Stroop
Poverty in eSwatini has bred unapologetic freedom fighters
Opinion
/ 5 December 2022

Poverty in eSwatini has bred unapologetic freedom fighters

Unbearable poverty has finally ignited an uprising in the tiny kingdom and Mswati’s police and army officers are the first targets

By Ntombenhle Khathwane
The problem in South Africa is not democracy but a lack of democrats
Opinion
/ 25 November 2022

The problem in South Africa is not democracy but a lack of democrats

For a democratic culture to exist there must be leaders and citizens who behave democratically — and they need to be educated about democracy to do that

By Craig Bailie
We must rise to the 2024 poll challenge: Change the game not just the players
Opinion
/ 11 November 2022

We must rise to the 2024 poll challenge: Change the game not just the players

We — the people of South Africa — have the chance to write the agenda for the future

By Tessa Dooms
How can we develop a uniquely African form of democracy?
Opinion
/ 7 November 2022

How can we develop a uniquely African form of democracy?

Africans have been decolonising, critiquing, and also enriching liberal democracy from an African perspective since colonial times

By Moses Ochonu
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