(Update) For those who understand the environment, South African Parliamentary elections are in full swing
For the country as well as for the provinces they’ve decided on a ‘Government of National Unity’ and if there is no consensus, a principle of ‘sufficient consensus’ is the order of the day. I am not sure if this is defined.
Here is the blow by blow from mainstream: https://mg.co.za/news/2024-06-14-live-south-africas-coalition-countdown/
And here is an opposition view: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-06-14-government-of-national-unity-will-see-parties-consulted-on-ministerial-appointments-according-to-signed-agreement/
South Africa should have a President today if all goes well and if the KwaZulu Natal contingents behave and do not cause chaos.
My interest is BRICS.
UPDATE: Voted and Done! It was a day of High Political Drama as Julius Malema, the little insect, appeared here at the last minute with a challenge vote!
Cyril Ramaphosa has just been re-elected President of South Africa. The election of the president went to the vote after the United Democractic Movement nominated EFF leader Julius Malema as President. This stretched out a long day for the newly minted Members of Parliament who first entered the house at 10am on Friday. Presiding over proceedings Chief Justice Raymond Zondo read out Ramaphosa’s name at 11.10pm. Ramaphosa received 283 votes and Malema 44.
Here is an excerpt of an editorial from the Mail & Guardian that I like: Editorial: Let maturity reign Talking about the political landscape: puerile political landscape – childish, churlish and driven by self-interest – it makes for a lot of fun but for terrible governance. And so, more than… Read more »
It will be Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa by all accounts, for a second term via a deal with the National Unity Parliament specifically the DA (Democratic alliance), unless something goes wrong. It is probably a good thing – some stability but also ongoing looting of the treasury. Oh boy … Now… Read more »
I’m interested if there is any political party in South Africa who represent the people’s interest ie genuine leftist or Socialist ? I’d be surprised as the old money in SA is clearly still heavily owned by the west and the ANC is long ago corrupted.
K, it is a strange thing. I spent a lot of time there and studied there and my ex-husband was South African. What I see is that there was a love affair with traditional communism, harsh revolutionary action and nothing else. The real bad stuff. The old leaders were all… Read more »
Btw, the old money is not necessarily owned by the West. There is a lot of local money – the use of it is at question. I mean the old president built himself a full village with government funds and labor. The massive investigation on State Capture – well, it… Read more »
Thanks for your reply Amarynth. I guess most of my impressions of South Africa come from the mostly white SA immigrants to Australia. There is a definite sense of exceptionalism, much like Americans but perhaps even more like the colonial British. And en mass it’s a bit obnoxious to say… Read more »
Oh yeah .. I ignore those because I cannot stand the racist attitudes. I really cannot and they are unwilling to even consider that the other person is also a person. And yes, we have our own responsibility. On the socialist theme, there is a joint responsibility – those that… Read more »
what a great story, thanks:) I’ve always been drawn to collective and cooperative situations. And yes that sounds about right for my understanding of Chairman Mao too. My friend calls him Chair Mao in English and I would say affectionately.