The Institute for Democracy in Africa (IDASA) has recently co-ordinated a two day forum in Johannesburg. The forum (which occurred on the 6th and 7th September), was held in partnership with CARE Australia, and aimed to shine a spotlight on the ‘Role of civil society in Good Governance’. The role of civil society over the [...]
The country’s first Day of Action is to be held on 7th September 2010.Organisers argue that the aim will bet to raise awareness of political and social injustices in the region as well as supporting the plight for democracy. Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) has subsequently appealed for solidarity in the face of growing tensions [...]
International aid has always been a highly contested issue. Should aid be directed to help those most in need or does it merely feed corruption and shore up inefficient governments ? Not only does the United Kingdom’s decision to refocus its spending in international aid imply an underlying belief in the former, it also signifies [...]
South Africa’s current public sector strike is proving to be a repeat of the ‘07 strike – and in many ways, perhaps worse. Strikers have stepped out of the bounds of legitimacy by intimidating both fellow workers who wish to keep on working, and members of the public.Those attempting to carry on working and provide [...]
It is all too often the case that reports of natural disasters and human suffering can only hold our attentions for the short-term. Niger’s current food crisis, which has been festering since 2005, serves to remind us that once the cameras have left and we turn our attentions elsewhere, suffering countries continue grapple with their [...]
The ministry of finance and economic planning (MOFEP) announced on Wednesday 11th August that the rate of inflation for July 2010 has declined to a record 9.46 percent. The news comes despite an increase in government expenditure in 2010. In December ‘08 inflation soared to 18.1 percent, which MOFEP explains was due to the fiscal [...]
Prosecutors said that they hoped that the sentencing of former South African national police commissioner, Jackie Selebi to 15 years in prison would ‘send a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated’ in the country. Selebi’s part in accepting bribes from convicted drug dealer Glenn Agliott consequently sends out a clear warning to senior [...]
What a fantastic World Cup! The tournament was one of highs and lows and many unexpected results. Spain were crowned the new World Champions at the final on July 11th but the real winners were undoubtedly the South Africans themselves. In an address the day the after the tournament ended, South African President Jacob Zuma [...]
Tomorrow June 26th is national reconciliation day in Guinea. For the first time in over half a century the Guinean people will democratically elect their leader without the interference of the army. In ‘58 Ahmed Sekou Toure became the country’s leader. He practiced torture and violence against his opponents and was known for widespread corruption [...]
On June 22nd The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) announced that many of the world’s poorest countries are making significant progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Eleven of the most improved countries are amongst the weakest in Africa itself, and nearly half of the African countries that [...]
