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Vol 55 No 9

Published 1st May 2014


South Africa

Politics and Pistorius in the dock

Jobs and corruption dominate the ANC’s ‘catalyst' election while people take a break from the trial of the century

Faction fighting, heated arguments over jobs and corruption – South Africa is back to politics as usual after the adjournment of the murder trial of Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius until 5 May, just two days before national elections. Such is the trial's pulling power that it could significantly depress voter turnout. The Pistorius trial along with the accompanying incessant global media coverage has sporadically distracted people from the election campaign. However, for the many who see the trial as expensive justice beyond the reach of most citizens, the Pistorius case reinforces the sense of a deeply unequal society and promotes a prurient ‘voyeurism', distracting the public from the country's considerable challenges.

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