Why the actions of South Africa's president have rendered him a lame duck

Dec 14, 2015 16:23 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Mayhem is the only word that can describe President Jacob Zumas shock reversal of the appointment of almost-minister of finance Desmond van Rooyen. Markets welcomed the move to a well-known and trusted Pravin Gordhan, the...

Zuma's about-turn shows power of the South African media, and the markets

Dec 14, 2015 10:45 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

South Africa has had three finance ministers in the space of four days. First President Jacob Zuma replaced his trusted and competent finance minister Nhlanhla Nene with David van Rooyen, a malleable backbencher with a...

Zuma learns his lessons

Dec 14, 2015 08:57 am UTC| Commentary Politics

Anyone who has been following updates on South Africa, will grossly agree that president Jacob Zuma has learned his lessons. On Wednesday, South African president replaced, long standing finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene,...

Why South Africa should gird itself for tumultuous times

Dec 11, 2015 17:24 pm UTC| Politics

President Zumas latest cabinet reshuffle in the Ministry of Finance is arguably the most controversial of all his executive decisions. It is the seventh cabinet reshuffle since he became President in 2009 and the third...

Scholars: Trump's call to 'ban Muslims' is un-American

Dec 11, 2015 15:28 pm UTC| Politics Law

Q: Presidential candidate Donald Trump called Monday for barring all Muslims from entering the US. He previously called for surveillance against mosques and a database for all Muslims living the US. What can you tell us...

Zuma's leadership: political expediency trumps the interests of South Africa

Dec 11, 2015 14:56 pm UTC| Politics

South African President Jacob Zumas decision to replace a finance minister who was widely respected with someone who is unknown has raised questions about his political acuity as well as his style of leadership. Thabo...

Europe and the Great Recession: is it a crisis wasted?

Dec 10, 2015 11:05 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics Economy

It is a common refrain of political strategists that you should not let a good crisis go to waste. Seven years on from the beginnings of the global financial crisis, we can make an assessment of whether that maxim was...