Twenty-four years of constitutional democracy
Those long and snaky queues of all South Africans, who formed them in splendid rainbow array on 27 April 1994 at the polling stations set up for the first universal suffrage national election ever held in SA, have become emblematic of the hopes and aspirations of the nation “united in its diversity” and in its […]
Comment on the Commentariat: Cyril’s concomitant conundrums
It appears from recent editions of Daily Maverick that Richard Poplak, a.k.a. TRAINSPOTTER, is a “glass half empty” man, while his colleague Stephen Grootes is of the decidedly “glass half full” persuasion, when it comes to the analysis of, and prognostications on, the future trajectory of the Ramaphosa presidency. A closer look at the glass […]
LETTER: Gigaba not fit for office
The Afrikaans idiom “benoude katte maak benoude spronge” is not adequately translated into English as “fortune favours the brave”. The state of panic essential to the actions of the proverbial cat is, however, brought to mind by the latest concoction dished up on behalf of beleaguered Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba. A lateral-thinking legal mind […]
The ANC must swallow its own bitter medicine
CAPE TOWN — In this timely piece, Paul Hoffman, founder of Accountability Now, outlines the broad systemic change the ANC needs to make to once more become a credible political party – given how deeply the rot set in over the Zuma years. Drawing on statements by the party’s own NEC, Archbishop of Cape Town […]
Green shoots on the tree of constitutionalism
The question which may burn the green shoots of constitutionalism to cinders is whether the political will can be generated for the ANC to take the strong medicine of accountability for its institutional misdemeanours or “sins of incumbency” as they are sometimes called. March was a good month for optimists in SA who have concerns […]
What next for Jacob Zuma?
The National Prosecuting Authority needs to box smart – there is no better way to clear the air than swiftly to charge Jacob Zuma for the corrupt manner in which he relieved Mxolisi Nxasana of his post as the head of the NPA. This crime is far more serious, far more recent and far more […]
The cadres and the constitution
Paul Hoffman responds to Koos Malan’s bleak assessment of the current situation The analysis by Professor Koos Malan, a constitutionalist to his fingertips, on the current political trajectory of the country requires some explanation and interpretation in the form of a gloss on his views published on Politicsweb on 13 March 2018. As SA emerges […]
On the nationalisation of land
Paul Hoffman says EWC is a threat not just to Section 25, but the “founding values” of the constitution Nationalisation of land (aka expropriation without compensation) will be constitutionally difficult and economically disastrous. The EFF is certainly pertinacious in its pursuit of its policies. In 2017 it found itself somewhat isolated in what it calls […]
Negotiating the transition from corruption to integrity: two steps forward, one step back
The fundamental question for SA voters is: Has the ANC become so inherently corrupt and compromised an organisation as to be incapable of self-correcting? If the answer is “yes”, or even “perhaps”, casting votes differently in future is indicated for the 62% who supported the ANC in 2014, if the answer is “no” or “possibly” […]
Eskom board called on to prove utility not trading recklessly
The Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa has written to Eskom chairperson Jabu Mabuza requesting a detailed written explanation as to why the current board believes the State-owned utility can be rescued from its current financial distress, cautioning that Eskom may currently be trading “recklessly” in terms of the legislation governing companies in South Africa. […]
