Parliament has been more effective than current rhetoric implies

By Steven Friedman

Key voices in our national debate care about democracy — but only if it produces the result they want. Which is much the same as not caring about democracy at all.

Ironically, at a time when Lesotho is in danger of losing its democratic Parliament (for a ...

Parliament must see robust debate

By Mcebisi Ndletyana

Screaming matches on this platform are far better than angry mobs confronting each other in the streets, writes Mcebisi Ndletyana.

Johannesburg - “The security cluster cannot watch while the authority of Parliament is compromised in a manner that was witnessed last Thursday,” remonstrated the Minister of Defence, ...

Seeing red over parliamentary protocol

By Adv Johan Kruger, Director: Centre for Constitutional Rights

The Economic Freedom Fighters (the EFF) are causing an uproar inside and outside the hallowed hallways of Parliament.

Their apparent disregard for parliamentary customs and traditions have other political parties hot under the collar, while commentators stand divided on whether to ...

The problem with Parliament

By Trevor Manuel

In the week Parliament fell into a chaos of #paybackthemoney, it’s a good idea to read this former minister’s ideas on how to fix it (note: it’s not about heckling, eviction or chanting)

While we have myriad democratic institutions that all play a role in supporting good ...

Parliament gets new life in Episode 5

By Richard Calland

After 10 years of torpor, SA's fifth Parliament seems to have entered an interesting and perhaps more important phase, with plenty of possibilities.

“I don’t know and I’m not interested. Parliament is going to be where the action is now.” As usual, she was on the money. ...

How much is enough?

By Hennie van Vuuren

Leaders implicated in graft and state contracts have become the norm rather than the exception. Hennie van Vuuren addresses the buffalo in the room

Isn’t it remarkable how shifty politicians are tripped up by relatively small bribes? The fall from grace of a top politician is ...

Op-Ed: Does parliament represent the people?

By Raymond Suttner.

Protests are an everyday feature of life in the new South Africa. This practical, lived experience raises questions that need examination. Does voting realise its promise, and does the system work for the electorate?

“The People Shall Govern!”- The Freedom Charter.

Images and reports of people taking ...

MPs’ behaviour eating away at Parliament’s credibility

by Mukoni Ratshitanga

The debate on the State of the Nation address in the national assembly last week illustrated concerns and evinced valuable lessons and reminders which our public representatives across the party political divide ought to be attentive.

The endless points of order, genuine and some not, interjections and ...

Like ice water on a sleepy face

By Mondli Makhanya

The statue of Louis Botha outside the main entrance to South Africa’s Parliament is an imposing one. The man sits regally atop a horse, surveying all that is before him. The inscription on the plinth proudly reads: “Farmer. Warrior. Statesman.”

It is a galling image that celebrates ...

Youth, unemployment and the South African dream

By Haji Mohamed Dawjee

While youth unemployment is an issue in South Africa, today's youth are not up to doing just about anything to make it, writes Haji Mohamed Dawjee.

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) recently announced that youth unemployment in the country has fallen to 36.1% – a 3.4% ...