Friedrich Naumann
News
South Africa: Engaging the State
Frans Cronje of the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) writes about Bank of America Merrill Lynch's 12 July report on South Africa's mining policy environment.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Congress: “Our Success is South Africa’s Success”
Representatives from the FNF attended the DA's Federal Congress held over the weekend in Cape Town; during which a message of support from the General Secretary of Germany's Free Democratic Party was read. The following is Helen Zille's speech which she delivered at the opening of the Congress.
FNF Africa Regional Office: No to Xenophobia
FNF has joined and signed the Unite as One Campaign pledge alongside Southern African Legal Assistance Network (SALAN) member organization, Black Sash. Mr Nkosikulule Nyembezi, the Advocacy Programme Manager for Black Sash paid a visit to the FNF office in Johannesburg to discuss more on this very important issue.
South Africa: Local Development
Local economic development is failing across much of South Africa as a result of inefficiencies and unrealistic expectations. Tim Nast, DA mayor of Midvaal, and Gavin Lewis, DA member of the Gauteng legislature, write about how the Midvaal municipality has been able to "escape" this failure by simply working to : "get the basics right and working. Slash all unnecessary expenditure. Keep your town neat, tidy and safe."
South Africa: By-elections - DA Wins Another Ward off the ANC
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has won off the ANC another ward in the Cape Town Metro (Ward 99, in Mitchells Plein). This is the seventh ward the DA has won off the ANC since April last year, and the sixth in the Western Cape. Elsewhere, the DA held and grew its support in every by-election it contested.
Zimbabwe: Nyamandhlovu Farmers Arrested Yet Again
19.07.2010 the Justice for Agriculture (JAG) issued a press release statement with news of the arrests of Nyamandhlovu farmers. They have been charged under the Gazetted Lands (Consequential Provisions) Act for occupying State Land without an “Offer Letter”, Permit or Lease. The statement provides background on the case leading up to the arrests and concludes with a comment on the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement entered into between Zimbabwe and South Africa last year.
South Africa: Not in the National Interest
It's an elephant dressed up as a sheep, the M&G told Parliament when the draconian Protection of Information Bill was introduced. It went away, but now it's back. Be afraid, writes Sam Sole
Essay Contest for African Students and Professionals
The essay contest is an initiative by African Liberty powered by International Policy Network and supported by Atlas Economic Research Foundation & Imani. With prizes of $1,000, $850, $650 $300, 200 and 10 prizes of $100 each plus plus full scholarship to 2011 Summer School for each of the top three. Open to African Students and professionals between 18 – 35. 1500 – 2000 words on any of the five sections on the CD “Ideas for a Free Society”:A Free Market Economy: The missing link in Africa’s development: Discuss ; Globalisation: The key to development; A government big enough to give you all you want can take it all away: Discuss.; Entrepreneurship: The key to self-actualization; and , Capitalism is a moral philosophy: Discuss Please contact the FNF Johannesburg office for copies of "Ideas for a Free Society".
South Africa: Job Creation
Ann Bernstein the executive director of the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE), a partner of the FNF, writes in the BusinessDay about job creation in South Africa: MY WORLD Cup “moment” came on a crowded Metrorail train coming back from Soccer City at midnight. We would feel a lot less like an apartheid city if we had a safe, efficient public transport system that could help knit the different parts of Johannesburg together.
Zimbabwe: Soccer Going Political
Amidst the general soccer madness of July 2010 in South Africa, a group of human and civil rights organisations launched the campaign “RED CARD ZIMafia: Let Africa win” with the objective to unmask the perpetrators of violence and corruption in Zimbabwe, and to expose the danger this ruthless clique poses to the peace and security of the entire region.
Burundi: "Big men" with Small Ambitions have too Often Led this Continent.” Says Nzomukunda
Following the 28 June Presidential elections in Burundi, Alice Nzomukunda (former Vice-President of the country) and leader of LI member Alliance Democratique Pour le Renouveau, has spoken out against the undemocratic process.
South Africa: Health Care in South Africa
The June issue of Fast Facts, a publication supported by the Foundation, carries an in-depth analysis of both the private and public health care system in South Africa. In addition to an article on the debate around the proposal of introducing a National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.
EAC Common Market Now Operational
After years of discussions negotiation, the East African Community merged its five member countries into one market. Today, 1st July 2010, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi have officially opened up a single market. The protocol that was signed in November last year now becomes operational, with expectation of political federation in 2015. The provision of the protocol shall apply to any activity undertaken in cooperation by the partner state to achieve the free movement of goods, persons, labour, services and capital and to ensure the enjoyment of the rights of establishment and residence of their nationals within the Community. Veni Swai FNF Tanzania
South Africa: Sport, Nation Building and Development
Considering the many activities around the World Cup for developing community outreach programs, the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) organized a roundtable on the role of sport in community development, where diverse views were expressed on whether these initiatives are sustainable and do contribute to an overall strategy for continued community development.
Zimbabwe: Statement by SADC Lawyers' Association
The Southern African Development Community Lawyers Association (SADC LA) condemns the continued detention and denial of bail of Farai Maguwu, the director of the Zimbabwean Centre for Research and Development. The human rights Non Governmental Organization has been at the forefront of documenting human rights abuses and violations in Zimbabwe’s controversial Marange / Chiadzwa Diamond Fields. Mr Maguwu was arrested on 3 June on charges of providing false information about the Zimbabwean diamond trade. The denial of bail of Mr Maguwu has to be understood in the context of the Kimberly Process Certification Meeting underway in Israel, where it is being discussed whether to allow Zimbabwe to resume its diamond trade .
Zimbabwe: Another View
The way Zimbabwe has been reduced from bread basket to basket case in the past ten years appears to the casual observer deeply irrational. As John Robertson, the respected Zimbabwean economist explains in his short essay below, these policy decisions were, and are, indeed not irrational at all. There is, as the saying goes, method to the madness. And the method did not start in the past ten years either. The seeds were sown many years earlier. John Robertson's analysis is a most useful tool to understand Mugabe & Co's policy and other choices past, present and future.
South Africa: Is hosting the World Cup worth it? - 18th June 2010
In "South Africa Today", the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) questions whether the long-term cost of hosting the World Cup be worth it, or should the country have rather spent the money on tackling the many social and economic ills facing the country?
Blantyre, Malawi: Towards Local Government Elections and the Devolution of Power
International experts, local academia, the media and civil society came together in Blantyre to debate how Malawi can genuinely devolve power, decentralise and empower its citizens politically.
South Africa: Is BBBEE an Effective Route to Inclusive Development and Economic Growth in South Africa?
On the 26 May, the Small Business Project (SBP), with support from the FNF, organized a roundtable on whether Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) is an effective route to inclusive development and economic growth in South Africa.
South Africa: Chasing the Rainbow: South Africa’s Move from Mandela to Zuma
Dr Anthea Jeffery, head of special research at the South African Institute of Race Relations, launched her latest book, Chasing the Rainbow: South Africa’s Move from Mandela to Zuma, at a function in Johannesburg. Her speech follows
South Africa: Engaging the State
