History Matters

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 [...]

So some people are grumbling that they cannot pronounce our new president’s name… just one of the ironies of having 11 official languages that are not at all valued equally. If you’ve Googled it and came across the only audio pronunciation clip for Kgalema Motlanthe , listened to the clip and practiced saying it a [...]

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 [...]

September 24, 2008. Dear Colleagues, To all Members of the National Executive. As you know, tomorrow, September 25, the National Assembly will elect the next President of the Republic of South Africa, who will also swear his or her Oath of Office on the same day. By law, I will therefore cease to be President [...]

The ANC Youth League’s attack on the party’s deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, tells us two things. Firstly, that the ANC is more seriously divided than anyone imagined even after the Polokwane punch-up. Secondly, that the Jacob Zuma camp is working itself into a reckless frenzy as it realises its man’s legal position is becoming more [...]