Their role in our democracy has been invaluable, and they will need our protection and support
On Thursday the president honoured South Africans and eminent foreign nationals with the highest award the country offers
The current system has failed to serve the poor and entrenched conservatism while suppressing debate
Of South Africa’s 213 municipalities, the ANC attained a majority in 161. Meanwhile, there are 66 hung councils that will need to be governed through coalitions
The low voter turnout in the local polls is something our leading parties must take to heart as they look to rebuild their relationship with the electorate.
Voting tactically may seem like a realistic, mature option, but it compromises the integrity of your vote and is corrosive to the long-term health of democracy
The Makana Citizens Front brings together diverse groups with a focus on accountability
Citizens want a meaningful say in how they are governed, not local government that foists on them what it has decided the people need.
Empowering the poor should be what underlies every debate and policy adopted in South Africa
Two recent reports show evidence that democracy in Africa is being threatened by private power networks
The president has named a panel of experts to help him draw up a shortlist of candidates in an unprecedented move that opens the appointment to consultation
Judge finds that public participation in democratic processes is not the exclusive preserve of the privileged few who have access to the internet and can read English
The past cannot be erased, but leaders can choose how to respond to it and how to forge a better future
Of the 504 political parties registered with the IEC, 393 did not respond to the requirement of the Political Party Funding Act
The advent of democracy in 1994 merely created the conditions for transformation to begin
South Africans’ behaviour and attitudes show that poor black working-class people, and black women in particular, are denied
their innate humanity
What’s been happening on the continent this week?
Lungu’s defeat in the Zambian elections will be a constant reminder to the new government that the Zambian people have the power to vote for change
Speaking shortly after his predecessor Edgar Lungu conceded defeat, the business tycoon and veteran opposition leader said his camp had been victims of a “brutal regime that is exiting”
What is worrisome is that even if Zambians desire political change, research indicates that fear of facing electoral violence lowers support for democracy
Unless meaningful change occurs soon, more blood will be spilt on Swazi streets
Rebuilding is crucial, but democracies cannot allow themselves to be held to ransom by the destruction of anarchists in dictating where public funds should be spent
But the biggest internal deployment since 1994 is not without challenges, as food, fuel and simply getting to the hotspots are problems facing the SANDF’s deployment
Courts do have a crucial role in political cases but alternative dispute resolution mechanisms should be considered
The electoral commission heard that delaying local government elections will be an assault on democracy and that people’s lives should not be put at risk during the Covid crisis
IEC must stop stringing us along; they have already decided against elections, Party of Action tells inquiry
Stop those rambling family meetings, in which the public is treated like a child, and let us ask you questions
Inquiry leader and former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke emphasised the need for democratic processes not to falter because of the pandemic.
Submissions to the inquiry into elections under Covid-19 call for local government polls to run as scheduled, or move online
Defying the ban on demonstrations amid a wave of protests against King Mswati’s rule, residents have held demonstrations – and security forces have responded with violence
Changes in news consumption practices and in the information ecosystem have hit newspapers hard
Democracy is everyone’s responsibility to defend. Now is a critical time to double up efforts to guard this nation’s constitutional integrity