Vol 52 No 9 | SOUTH AFRICAANALYSIS Local elections threaten the ANC's national grip 29th April 2011 Municipal elections do not always stir passions but those on 18 May hold great significance for an African National Congress beset by infighting and disunity. They promise to be the most competitive polls since majority rule began in 1994 and will affect the ANC’s National Congress next year, signpost 2014’s presidential and parliamentary elections and test the Tripartite Alliance of ANC, Confederation of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and SA Communist Party (SACP), which is split several ways on economic policy. President Jacob Zuma’s political position has become precarious and a poor show at the municipal polls will hurt him as much as his governing party (AC Vol 52 No 8)....
Vol 52 No 9 | SOUTH AFRICAANALYSIS Towns at risk for the ANC 29th April 2011 The ANC faces tough electoral competition in several constituencies.
Vol 52 No 8 | LIBYASOUTH AFRICA Zuma to the shores of Tripoli 15th April 2011 The AU mission to Libya was an abject failure but the South African leader got a chance to catch up with an old pal South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma led an African Union peace mission to Libya on 11 April. The mission quickly fell apart, which did nothing for the AU’s poor...
Vol 52 No 7 | SOUTH AFRICA Zuma’s presidential primary 1st April 2011 Claims of corruption and nepotism are weakening the ANC’s position ahead of key local elections For once, local government elections could change national politics. The municipal polls next month will be a critical test for President Jacob Zuma and the African National Congress....
Vol 52 No 7 | SOUTH AFRICA Who’s who in Zumaland 1st April 2011 The inner circle, allies inside government, and chief personal enemies
Vol 52 No 7 | SOUTH AFRICA Clubbing Beijing 1st April 2011 South Africa formally enters the informal club of BRIC nations – Brazil, Russian, India and China – in April in Beijing. On 24 to 26 March, ten key...
Vol 52 No 5 | SOUTH AFRICA It's all about jobs 4th March 2011 Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan stakes everything on the government’s attack on unemployment Job creation and social services would be government’s top political measures, said Finance Minister Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan in his budget speech on 24 February. He warned that without cooperation over economic...
Vol 52 No 5 | SOUTH AFRICA The Gupta factor 4th March 2011 President Jacob Zuma’s critics again claim he is in thrall to the Durban-based Gupta family. If the African National Congress does badly in the coming local elections, party critics will again...
Vol 52 No 5 | SOUTH AFRICA Making history 4th March 2011 As next year’s centenary of the African National Congress approaches, a row is raging over how to portray Presidents Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma in the ANC’s...
Vol 52 No 4 | SOUTH AFRICA Zumanomics sound better 18th February 2011 There is little new in Zuma’s new economic strategy but his growing confidence is pulling in more support President Jacob Zuma’s third State of the Nation address to Parliament, on 10 February, was more like a bid for a second term at the elections in 2012....