Vol 50 No 12 | SOUTH AFRICA This time it will be different 12th June 2009 Trades unionists and Communist activists are pushing their leaders to take on government as the recession bites Just days after President Jacob Zuma’s 3 June State of the Nation Address on accountability in government and jobs for the people, the trades unions hit back with...
Vol 50 No 11 | SOUTH AFRICA You've stood, now deliver 29th May 2009 The people who got out the vote for Zuma insist that he keep his side of the bargain The trades union chief, Zwelinzima Vavi, a key supporter of President Jacob Zuma when he was a mere candidate, is warning the government of a season of strikes...
Vol 50 No 11 | SOUTH AFRICA The telephone test 29th May 2009 The trades unions' legal challenge to the listing of the multibillion dollar Vodacom cellular phone group on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange tested President Jacob Zuma's political nerves. But...
Vol 50 No 10 | SOUTH AFRICA Pragmatism trumps ideology 15th May 2009 President Zuma's first cabinet keeps the economic power in the hands of the market-friendly centrists A night of haggling preceded President Jacob Zuma's 10 May announcement of a new cabinet, which includes people from the left, the centre, black business, populists and even...
Vol 50 No 10 | SOUTH AFRICA The security brigade 15th May 2009 Who's who in President Jacob Zuma's security team President Jacob Zuma's ally Siphiwe Nyanda, a former head of the defence force, was appointed Communications Minister; his numerous defence-related business interests disqualified him from the Defence Ministry....
Vol 50 No 9 | SOUTH AFRICA Learning to love Jacob Zuma 1st May 2009 A pragmatic coalition of pro-market politicians and presidential loyalists will dominate the new cabinet There is some truth in Jacob Zuma's insistence that he owes no favours after the African National Congress's sweeping election victory on 22 April. It was the culmination...
Vol 50 No 9 | SOUTH AFRICA On the line to Zuma 1st May 2009 First off of the blocks to congratulate Jacob Zuma on the African National Congress's win in the 22 April elections was British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. This was...
Vol 50 No 8 | SOUTH AFRICA Zuma's surprise package 17th April 2009 The coming presidency will face the hard times with some unexpectedly right-wing measures and boosted security services Jacob Zuma's inevitable ascent to the presidency has been achieved at considerable cost. The governing African National Congress has been absorbed for the last year in faction-fighting, dealing...
Vol 50 No 8 | SOUTH AFRICA It's the political economy, stupid! 17th April 2009 The economy contracted in the first quarter of 2009 and South Africa is entering its first recession in 17 years. The South African Reserve Bank has cut its...
Vol 50 No 8 | SOUTH AFRICAWORLD BANK Integrity in question 17th April 2009 Claims that the World Bank’s Vice-President for Integrity and former head of South Africa’s Scorpions anti-corruption unit, Leonard McCarthy, used his position to pursue political vendettas against African...