By Simon Williamson
There's a lot more to this election in Gauteng than the Premier's race.
After we’ve all gone and voted, the Independent Electoral Commission shunts the numbers through a formula to determine who gets how many seats in the next National Assembly, and all the provincial legislatures. It ...
By Jay Naidoo
Before we understand why that might be, we need to ask a fundamental question: are our lives better twenty years into democracy?
The answer is a decisive “yes”.
We have made progress in extending basic services such as water, electricity, housing, education and health to millions who ...
By Steven Friedman
SPOILING your vote is a valid democratic option, but it just doesn’t do enough to make your voice heard. A group of African National Congress (ANC) veterans, who are urging voters to spoil their ballots rather than stay at home, are responding to one of the key ...
GREGORY SOLIK
1 APR 2014
Secret funding of political parties poses a serious threat to a strong, independent and democratic society as it enables a tiny minority of influential people and corporations to exercise an electoral influence stronger than a single vote. Secrecy breeds corruption, and it’s making our democracy ...
After months of development, the People’s Assembly went live last week just prior to the 2014 State of the Nation Address. The site draws on eleven (and counting) sources of information to connect people with the work of their representatives.
Here we’ll run through a few of the key features ...
By Christi van der Westhuizen__
This year South Africans celebrate the 20-year anniversary of our democratic parliament. With national and provincial elections approaching, political parties are finalising the lists of candidates selected to represent South Africans. It is an opportune moment to reflect on the efficacy of public representation ...
By Judith February__
This article first appeared in Eye Witness News and the Cape Times on 13 February 2014
What is the state of our nation? Recently we have seen a dramatic rise in social protest as we stand on the cusp of elections. No fewer than five protests ...
Political party funding: Who pays the Piper? Who calls the tune? by Mark Heywood
In less than four months, in compliance with our Constitution’s injunction that gives “every citizen has the right to free, fair and regular elections for any legislative body established in terms of the Constitution” the Independent ...
February 11 2014 at 10:45am
By Murray Hunter and Vinayak Bhardwaj
The front-page report in the Sunday Independent that billionaire Natie Kirsh may be the ³mystery donor² behind the failed DA-AgangSA merger has excited much interest in his alleged role as a political donor. Rightfully so.
But this is an ...