Jacob Zuma
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‘The Politic of Blood’: Political Repression in South Africa
In his famous speech from the dock in April 1964, Nelson Mandela spoke of ‘revolutionary democracy’ rooted in precolonial forms of collective deliberation and decision making. In a speech given in April 1982, Joe Foster, then General Secretary of the Federation of South African Trade Unions (Fosatu), stressed the need for workers ‘to build their… Continue reading
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South Africa’s ANC’s “Internal Presidential Elections”: Ramaphosa Rises as Lonmin Expires By Prof. Patrick Bond
On the one hand are powerful elements friendly to so-called “White Monopoly Capital,” and on the other are outgoing ANC president Jacob Zuma’s allies led by Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, his ex-wife and former African Union chairperson. The latter faction includes corrupt state “tenderpreneur” syndicates, especially the notorious Gupta brothers, and is hence typically nicknamed “Zupta.” Continue reading
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In South Africa’s fight between hostile brothers – the “Zuptas” and “White Monopoly Capital” – a new consensus appears By Patrick Bond
Last week a conceptual barrier carefully constructed by elites since 2015 was suddenly cracked at the University of the Witwatersrand Great Hall by two of South Africa’s leading economic personalities: Pravin Gordhan, who served as a pro-business Finance Minister for seven years until being fired in March, and super-consultant Iraj Abedian, who in 1996 had… Continue reading
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Video: The Giant Is Falling Official Trailer 2016
10 October 2016 — Youtube The Giant is Falling takes us through the big political events of recent years that signify the dying days of the ANC in South Africa. Locating the moment when things fell apart as the Marikana Massacre, the film charts the various ways people have collectively responded to the ANC’s failure Continue reading
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Anti-ANC vote campaign initiated in South African general election By Thabo Seseane Jr.
Anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu has added his voice to a campaign championed by senior members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to get the electorate to vote against the party in the May 7 general election. Continue reading
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South Africa’s ‘sub-imperial’ seductions By Patrick Bond
Thanks are due to an odd man, the brutally frank Zambian vice-president Guy Scott who last week pronounced, “I dislike South Africa for the same reason that Latin Americans dislike the United States”. Thanks are also due to South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma for forcing a long-overdue debate, just as the World Economic Forum Africa… Continue reading
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Video: Platinum Miners and Class Struggle in South Africa By Patrick Bond
Patrick Bond: Platinum miners strike inspires workers across South Africa; Billionaire mine owner becomes deputy head of ANC Continue reading
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South Africa: Politics, profits and policing after the Marikana Massacre By Patrick Bond
Lover of fast cars, vintage wine, trout fishing and game farming and the second richest black businessperson in South Africa (global financial publication Forbes puts his wealth at $675 million or £416 million), Cyril Ramaphosa (left) celebrates his election as deputy president of the ANC with South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma. Ramaphosa demanded that police… Continue reading
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The Political Pied Pipers on the Road to Mangaung: A Different Kind of Tale By Dale T. McKinley
South Africa’s modern-day political pied pipers are, like the fairy tale character’s clothing, a patch-work collection. But we should not be deceived by appearances alone, for the securocrat-inspired tune of intolerance and political similitude they are playing with increasing enthusiasm and volume on the road to Mangaung is as deadly to all South Africans as… Continue reading
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Shocking autopsy: South African police 'shot fleeing protesters in the back'
South African police are facing accusations of mass murder after autopsies on the victims of a bloody crackdown at Marikana platinum mine, showed that miners were shot in the back. Meanwhile, new violence has broken out at the location. Continue reading
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Russian, S. African presidents to meet, discuss Libyan peace efforts
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in a telephone conversation on Saturday with South African President Jacob Zuma agreed to meet to discuss peace efforts in Libya, the Kremlin press service said. Continue reading
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South Africa loses its ‘War on Poverty’ By Patrick Bond
Shortly before Pretoria’s presidential power change from Thabo Mbeki to Jacob Zuma two years ago, the South African state announced its War on Poverty. What news from the front, in the immediate wake of World Cup host duties that showed observers how very pleasant life is for the rich and middle class here? We don’t… Continue reading
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Curing Post-Copenhagen Hangover By Patrick Bond
Instead of halting the hedonism, Barack Obama and the Euro elites cracked open the mansion door to add a few nouveau riche guests: South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, China’s Jiabao Wen (reportedly the most obnoxious of the lot), Brazil’s Lula Inacio da Silva and India’s Manmohan Singh. By Saturday morning, still punch-drunk with power over the… Continue reading
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WHATS THE WORD IN JOHANNESBURG AS FINANCIAL CRISIS ROCKS “THE RAINBOW NATION” HOPES FOR PROGRESS? By Danny Schechter
Johannesburg: There was lots of skepticism when I came to South Africa two years ago to show my film IN DEBT WE TRUST. While my critique of consumer debt resonated, the film’s forecast of a financial crisis didn’t. Their economy seemed to be doing well and it was hard to tell a society that tends… Continue reading
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Haidar Eid – An Open letter to Mr. Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa
I am writing to express my dismay and disappointment with both your attendance at the national conference of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies – a racist organization by any standards – as well as the content of your speech at that forum. Continue reading
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South African Political Power Balance Shifts Left – Though Not Yet Enough to Quell Grassroots Anger By Patrick Bond
Since the early 1990s, neoliberal policies have made SA economically more vulnerable than at any time since 1929. If five major currency crashes since 1996 were not evidence enough, the 6.4% quarterly GDP decline for early 2009 was the worst since 1984. By late 2008 it was apparent that labour would suffer vast retrenchments, what… Continue reading
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South Africa: Zuma presidency: New era or business as usual? By Fazila Farouk
Despite being sold down the river by the elite politics of their party, the poor still see the ANC as their saviour. Continue reading
The New Dark Age 