Democracy is not a spectator sport
The past decade should remind South Africans that democracy does not always work the way that it should. Democracy remains elusive, it doesn’t simply…
Articles
Democracy Works produces opinion pieces and more journalistic reporting which we share with our media partners where we can.
This page captures these articles.
The DA’s white, liberal establishment has to face the facts
Indications from the just concluded federal congress of the Democratic Alliance (DA) are that it will take some time yet, if ever it should…
Winnie had to ‘fall’ for South Africa to rise
During the 1980s Winnie Mandela was the public symbol, face, and embodiment of the radical domestic turn of the struggle against apartheid, when the…
Winnie Mandela’s legacy
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela died Monday at age 81. As she is eulogised, there will be many who point to her perceived failures. They will call her a…
Why the ANC won’t be able to stay in power by unconstitutional means
Very few African liberation movements – especially those who had armed wings during the struggle for liberation – which went on to come to…
Affirming human dignity towards non-racialism
Anti-racism week has recently ended, culminating in Human Rights Day. To mark 21 March as Human Rights Day confirms the democratic intention to overturn…
SA’S long journey to transition
Transition: ‘the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.’ The word has an effortless ring to it, as…
Rebuilding trust is Ramaphosa’s next struggle
On the steps of Cape Town City Hall on 11 February to celebrate the 28th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from prison…
Zimbabwe’s opposition struggles to recalibrate itself for elections
The death of opposition heavyweight Morgan Tsvangirai robbed Zimbabwe of the strongest challenger to Robert Mugabe for almost 20 years – and no successor will be…
Leaders need to study what has worked in Africa
In this article I will borrow from Professor David Moore’s characterisation of the Zimbabwe Crisis to be one of “primitive accumulation, nation-state formation, and democratisation”, simply…