Jacob Zuma’s enduring relevance
The former president’s abiding presence in South African politics reveals the undercurrent of cultural populism and what can happen when local beliefs cut against the grain of liberal democracy.
Jacob Zuma
Between two evils
After losing its parliamentary majority for the first time, the African National Congress is scrambling to form a coalition government. The options are bleak.
What’s happening in South Africa?
After unrest in July and municipal elections in November, it's clear South Africa is in the midst of a serious social, economic and political crisis. What are the roots of it? Listen to this episode of AIAC Talk to find out.
A terrifying vision of South Africa’s future
If South Africa’s Left can’t find a way to channel popular discontentment into the building of mass progressive movements, it will instead morph into anarchy, nativism and, inevitably, authoritarianism.
The strongman’s vision of democracy
Former South African President Jacob Zuma’s various rationalizations and obstructions for his crimes make for good drama. But they also reveal Zuma’s aversion to the rule of law.
How to steal a country
Rehad Desai's film celebrates the investigative journalists who expose the corruption of Zuma's regime in South Africa, comes with a depressing note: To date, no one has gone to jail.
The rise of the gangster state in South Africa
President Jacob Zuma oversaw a rise in political violence across all sectors of South African society.
South Africa needs a new public debate
Much of the criticism about neoliberalism is coming from the dominant faction of the ANC, the center-left party trying to hold onto power.
Jacob Zuma’s Party
The unprecedented levels of security for the opening of South Africa's Parliament in Cape Town.
The new kid on the block
Admit you didn't expect the Economic Freedom Fighters or EFF, a breakaway from the ANC, to do so well in South Africa's latest elections.
This is Freedom
The AIDS activist Zackie Achmat reflects on South Africa’s 5th democratic elections in this interview with Cape Town independent media outlet, GroundUp.
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.
South Africa is a Continent
Jacob Zuma says out loud what most South Africans believe about themselves: South Africa isn’t in Africa. It’s somewhere else. Somewhere better.
That uncomfortable feeling
The ‘premature’ launch of South Africa’s second 24-hour news television channel.
Julius Malema’s next move
In South Africa, many youth votes are up for grabs for the first time, from the generation facing 70% unemployment and with little loyalty to the ANC of their parents.
Why does the BBC care what FW de Klerk thinks?
It's 2012 and FW de Klerk still thinks Apartheid had been beneficial to its black victims. Yet global media treats him like an analyst on South African politics.
Howls in a hurricane
For South African news media to be ignored is a fate worse than censorship.
When Nelson Mandela goes
Yesterday we tweeted my friend Herman Wasserman’s guide to the media on how to cover Nelson
The New Yorker on violence against lesbians in South Africa
How does an American publication write critically about a country without running the risk of reifying sexual and racial stereotypes?
This is not about art
Between the relentless media coverage, the twitter deluge, the pronouncement by a South African judge (“This