The crisis of the party-state in South Africa
Improving socio-economic conditions may prove to be the precondition for fighting corruption.
African National Congress
The Spear of the People
The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands has a bit of a reputation as a “sleepy hollow.” But it was a crucial node in the struggle against apartheid.
Whining white South Africans
For the love of Woolworths, stop pretending like you and only you know what Nelson Mandela would have wanted.
The post-1994 power brokers and black liberation
Where does this leave the majority of largely poor, black and unskilled people affected by the competing interests of powerful groups?
To revolutionize a culture
The writer on Frank’s Archive, based on her father's records, that explores the different functions of books, power and knowledge.
Burying Comrade Nelson Mandela
For some of us, the official celebrations are missing a crucial element: Celebrating Nelson Mandela as a figure of armed struggle and the liberation movement.
The two mutually irreconcilable Nelson Mandelas
Both Nelson Mandela’s historical role in the South African transition to democracy and his own management of his legacy paved the way for vacuous treatments of his life.
The day Jacob Zuma lost control of the ANC?
At an event meant to celebrate Nelson Mandela's life, Jacob Zuma was not only embarrassed by the crowd (they booed him multiple times), by those on stage.
T.O. Molefe makes his New York Times debut
The website of the international edition of the The New York Times website debuted two dozen new "international" columnists this week. One of them is an AIAC contributor.
Mapping neoliberalism
if there is any city in South Africa most suited to be labelled the 'apartheid city', it would be Cape Town.
Waiting for Superman
The idea that leadership is the panacea to South Africa's varied troubles, is asserted as an almost axiomatic truth amongst South Africa's monotonous punditry.
Radio Freedom’s Afrikaans Service
Learning that Radio Freedom, the exiled ANC's radio service, broadcast in Afrikaans, further undermines the idea of the language as belonging to the oppressor.
Julius Malema’s History
Last week, after Malema was expelled from South Africa’s ruling party, we went back and looked
The ANC Goes Pop
Political parties in South Africa have a new challenge during elections: commissioning a pop ditty people can dance to while political candidates make empty promises from stages.
Joe Slovo is still one of my heroes
Joe Slovo was a key leader of the armed and exiled resistance against Apartheid and one of the most visible white face of that movement.