Ideological conflicts a significant threat to GNU’s survival
Six months into its tenure, South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) remains a subject of intense debate and scrutiny. Bringing together unlikely partners such as the ANC, DA, Patriotic Alliance, and Freedom Front Plus, alongside smaller parties like the IFP, UDM, PAC, and al-Jamaah, the GNU has faced scepticism from critics who question its ideological coherence and long-term viability.
Fixing Home Affairs will be a mountain to climb
The right-wing populism in Europe against refugees from the Middle East and North Africa has changed politics in countries like Hungary, Türkiye, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and the US – reflecting in growing antagonism to refugees, illegal immigrants and foreigners in general
Jacob Zuma’s MK Party may spell the end of ANC rule in KZN - Prof Dirk Kotze
MK has the potential to make an impact on the electoral results in KZN. The ANC already lost about 10% of its support in the 2019 provincial election. In 2021, it lost its majority in the eThekwini metro council.
Salga absent in coalition chaos
Constitutionally speaking, Salga is a key player on the municipal field. It also represents municipal government in Parliament’s National Council of Provinces.
Coalitions do not work for opportunistic parties
OPINION: SA has a history of dominant parties and not coalition governments. Several states in the world, on the other hand, don’t know anything else than coalition governments, writes Professor Dirk Kotzé.
Implications of president’s decision
OPINION: The Western Cape High Court’s latest judgment on the public protector is widely accepted as a victory for her over President Cyril Ramaphosa, writes Professor Dirk Kotze.
DA’s woes underscores push for political transformation
OPINION: The DA’s resignations are also symptomatic of another concerning trend in party politics, writes Professor Dirk Coetzee.
Ramaphosa’s ‘reformist renewal plan’
OPINION: The ANC’s policy conference is unique in the sense that it does not deal with policy as merely a party matter, writes Professor Dirk Kotze.
Prioritising leadership tussles over policy imperatives
OPINION: When the ANC refers to renewal, its conduct at conferences and internal elections can be a good demonstration of it, writes Prof Dirk Kotze.
Prevent capture of flood relief funds
OPINION: For the past decade, South Africans have associated the governing party with the disasters of corruption, mismanagement and state capture, writes Prof Dirk Kotze.
Cabinet accountability at the centre of the July 2021 violence
OPINION: Security and intelligence have become the core terrain of contestation about who controls the inner centre of the state. State capture exposed it to us. The social contract theorists of a century ago already wrote about it, writes Professor Dirk Kotze.
Three Gauteng metros important this election
OPINION: In Johannesburg, the ANC has an advantage on its own, but its disadvantage is that it does not have readily available coalition options.
April 27 - Day of political reckoning for ANC NEC
OPINION: The chessboard is set for the end of the month. Only a few pieces are left on the board, but they are the most important ones, writes Professor Dirk Kotze.