History Matters

South Africa Scenarios 2025, The Future We Chose? looks ‘back’ at three paths that the country may have traversed by 2025. The research presented, the scenarios envisaged, and the question mark in the title are all meant to provoke discussion and debate. Scenarios are not predictions, nor roadmaps; they are constructed stories about a particular [...]

The new ministers are as follows: * Defence, Charles Nqakula; * Justice and Constitutional Development, Enver Surty; * Health, Barbara Hogan; * Safety and Security, Nathi Mthethwa; * Public Enterprises, Brigitte Mabandla; * Public Works, Geoff Doidge; * Intelligence, Siyabonga Cwele; * Minister in the Presidency, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang * Provincial and Local Government S Shiceka [...]

President Motlanthe’s speech: South Africa: The End of Mbeki: News24 ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY KGALEMA MOTLANTHE ON THE OCCASION OF HIS ELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 25 SEPTEMBER 2008 Madame Speaker of the National Assembly, Acting President Our esteemed Chief Justice Honourable leaders of our political parties Members of Parliament Ministers and [...]

the Constitution determines that a new President must be chosen within 30 days from among the members of the National Assembly, according to the blog Constitutionally Speaking. In the meantime the Deputy President will act as President. Or if she also resigns, a Minister designated by the other members of the Cabinet will act as [...]

How can the ANC push out Mbeki? A South African president can be removed if two-thirds of Parliament supports a vote outlining he was guilty of a serious violation of the constitution or laws. He can also be deposed through a vote of no-confidence which needs just a majority. But the process is more simple [...]

Official judgement in the Jacob Zuma trial

With Heritage Day approaching, it is apt to draw attention to a new website, established by Yale PhD student Andrew Offenburger, on the Xhosa Cattle Killing. The website address is: http://www.xhosacattlekilling.net. It is a great resource for anyone interested in the Xhosa Cattle Killing (or Nongqawuse’s prophecy) – not only its history, but also what [...]

Today marks the 31st anniversary of the tragic death of Steve Biko who died in police custody on 12 September 1977, the 46th person to die in police detention.  Steve Biko was an incredible leader who’s life was decisively cut short by the apartheid regime. In honour of Steve Biko’s contribution to South Africa, History [...]

“This is one country where it would be possible to create a capitalist black society, if whites were intelligent, if the nationalists were intelligent. And that capitalist black society, black middle class, would be very effective … South Africa could succeed in putting across to the world a pretty convincing, integrated picture, with still 70 [...]