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Mail & Guardian
governancelatest news & developments

Tender Invitation

GIZ, under the EU and BMZ-funded Good Financial Governance programme, invites bids to develop an electronic AML/CTPF statistics management system for Zambia's Financial…

ANC coffers dry as donors pull the plug

ANC Treasurer-General Gwen Ramokgopa explains how donor disclosure stigma and past financial mismanagement have hampered the party's fundraising, as the ANC implements…

Land is back but prosperity isn't

Thirty years into South Africa's land reform, millions of hectares remain underused due to governance failures in Communal Property Associations. Reforming these structures is…

When crime starts calling the shots

Elections and constitutional structures can remain intact even as organised crime quietly infiltrates institutions. Insights from Colombia and South Africa reveal the growing…

Beyond Heritage Day: African Languages Must Carry Our Rights

Heritage Month should go beyond cultural celebration to address institutional language barriers that prevent citizens from fully understanding and accessing their constitutional…

History: The youth of 1976 demanded the right to learn. . . the youth of 2026 require the tools to thrive. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Africa’s Youth Need More Than a Voice; They Need Power

Nearly 60 percent of Africans are under the age of 25, but scale alone is not power. Investing in civic skills and practical advocacy infrastructure is vital to converting…

The Best AI System Is Not the One That Never Fails. It Is the One That Knows How to Lose Authority

Drawing lessons from South Africa's power recovery and AI policy withdrawal, this analysis explores why resilient organisations must master 'Authority Degradation' to safely dial…

President Cyril Ramaphosa

An Open Letter to His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa

An open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for critical reforms in South Africa's criminal justice system, stricter criteria for public office, and a constitutional review…

The Missing Principle in AI Governance: Accountability

Organisations readily endorse ethical AI principles, but without enforceable accountability and explainability, these values fall short. True AI governance demands that…

Latest trend: Several parties are deploying senior national figures as mayoral candidates, among them the EFF who has put forward Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi in eThekwini. Photo: EFF KZN

Race for mayors is now a national game

As senior political leaders step into the ring for mayoral seats ahead of the 2026 local elections, questions arise over whether municipalities are being treated as serious…

No excuses: As the secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula is the CEO of the ANC, responsible for administration of the party and, therefore, the proverbial buck for the blunder stops with him. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

The ANC is losing its grip from within

The ANC's failure to register local government election candidates exposes deep factional paralysis and administrative incompetence under Cyril Ramaphosa's waning authority.

Democracy: Zambia's recently concluded 2026 elections have raised fears of democratic backsliding, particularly following the arrest and subsequent treason charges against Brian Mundubile, the main challenger to President Hakainde Hichilema. Photo: Mutinta Hichilema

From hope to fear: A tale of Zambia's democracy in contrast with other States

An analysis of Zambia's democratic trajectory following the 2026 elections, contrasting its civic space and challenges with governance trends across Africa.

Voters queue at a voting station in Maseru

Technology must serve democracy, not stand between the people and their choice

As South Africa approaches local government elections, electoral modernisation and digital tools must prioritise democratic access, institutional integrity, and the…

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has approved a temporary increase in water abstraction by Rand Water to stabilise Gauteng’s strained municipal water systems (DWS/X)

Majodina apologises after ‘profane’ exchange with Kouga resident

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has issued an apology after a video of her swearing at a resident during a community engagement in the Eastern Cape went viral.

UK Casino Regulation Is One of the World's Most Watched Models — Here's Why South Africa Is Paying Attention

South Africa's fragmented gambling oversight has struggled to keep pace with rapid digital growth. Policymakers are turning to the UK's centralised, enforcement-heavy model as a…

The ANC is powerful

This is bigger than the ANC

Beyond the headlines focused on the ANC, the ongoing candidate registration dispute affects 45 political parties and raises critical democratic questions for the Electoral Court…

Decentralisation: Service delivery, failing infrastructure and governance are prominent issues in municipalities. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Lessons from Peru and SA for the Global South

As Peru and South Africa prepare for subnational elections, their shared governance challenges highlight the delicate balance between subnational autonomy, state capacity, and…

Perfect example: Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa at Eskom Rotek Industries as part of the national energy crisis committee's. Necom is the model to copy, having successfully ended load-shedding. Photo: Department of electricity and energy

Building a state beside a state

As presidential committees multiply and citizens take public services into their own hands, parallel structures risk bypassing South Africa's core governance systems instead of…

What appears to citizens as poor service delivery is often the visible result of deeper institutional weaknesses.
(David Harrison)

Before you promise me a bridge, show me the spreadsheet

As municipal elections approach in South Africa, voters must look past billboard slogans and demand real financial plans. It is time to challenge systemic mismanagement,…

Suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Ad hoc committee at loggerheads over Mchunu’s alleged links to cartels

Parliament's ad hoc committee is divided along party lines over suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu's decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team and his alleged…