Zuma's about-turn shows power of the South African media, and the markets
Dec 14, 2015 10:45 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
South Africa has had three finance ministers in the space of four days. First President Jacob Zuma replaced his trusted and competent finance minister Nhlanhla Nene with David van Rooyen, a malleable backbencher with a...
Dec 14, 2015 08:57 am UTC| Commentary Politics
Anyone who has been following updates on South Africa, will grossly agree that president Jacob Zuma has learned his lessons. On Wednesday, South African president replaced, long standing finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene,...
Why South Africa should gird itself for tumultuous times
Dec 11, 2015 17:24 pm UTC| Politics
President Zumas latest cabinet reshuffle in the Ministry of Finance is arguably the most controversial of all his executive decisions. It is the seventh cabinet reshuffle since he became President in 2009 and the third...
Scholars: Trump's call to 'ban Muslims' is un-American
Dec 11, 2015 15:28 pm UTC| Politics Law
Q: Presidential candidate Donald Trump called Monday for barring all Muslims from entering the US. He previously called for surveillance against mosques and a database for all Muslims living the US. What can you tell us...
Zuma's leadership: political expediency trumps the interests of South Africa
Dec 11, 2015 14:56 pm UTC| Politics
South African President Jacob Zumas decision to replace a finance minister who was widely respected with someone who is unknown has raised questions about his political acuity as well as his style of leadership. Thabo...
Europe and the Great Recession: is it a crisis wasted?
Dec 10, 2015 11:05 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics Economy
It is a common refrain of political strategists that you should not let a good crisis go to waste. Seven years on from the beginnings of the global financial crisis, we can make an assessment of whether that maxim was...
The 'Climate Games' aren't just activist stunts – they're politics beyond the UN
Dec 09, 2015 13:56 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
At the moment, most people interested in the politics of climate change (including me) are focusing on a small site in Pariss northern suburbs. This is where the COP21 negotiations are taking place. While to us this is...
Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility
Economist Chris Richardson on an ‘ugly’ inflation result and the coming budget
Why Germany ditched nuclear before coal – and why it won’t go back
Labour can afford to be far more ambitious with its economic policies – voters are on board
Sudan: civil war stretches into a second year with no end in sight