News
Neustadt/Berlin, 26 May till 2 June 2013
South African delegation in Germany to collect information on measures to drop youth unemployment
From 26 May till 2 June 2013 eight South African representatives from government, political parties, business and trade unions took part in a study programme of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in the German cities of Neustadt an der Weinstraße and Berlin. On their trip the delegates were briefed by German employers and public authorities on the services they offer to drop youth unemployment. To South Africa with a youth unemployment rate of more than 40% the issue is of high political importance.
Stellenbosch, 23 May 2013
Minister Trevor Manuel at joint breakfast meeting
At a joint breakfast meeting organised by KAS and the umbrella association of Southern African churches KAIROS participants discussed with the head of the National Planning Commission Trevor Manuel the role of civil society in the implementation of the ambitious South African National Development Plan (NDP). As a Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manual is regarded as one of the most influential personalities of the governing African National Congress (ANC).
Book Launch
Friend or Foe? Dominant Party Systems in Southern Africa
On 14 March 2013 the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Johannesburg presented her sponsored publication ‘Friend or Foe? Dominant Party Systems in Southern Africa’. The comparative collection of articles deals with dominant party systems in Southern Africa and overseas. In a panel discussion with the editor, Dr Nicola de Jager, participants learnt about how dominant party systems influence political, social and economic development in the Southern African countries.
Chairman of the IFP youth organisation at Berlin symposium in honour of former German President
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung invited the chairman of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) youth organisation, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, to a symposium on the occasion of the 70th birthday of former German President, Horst Köhler, in Berlin. Being the youngest parliamentarian in the South African National Assembly, Hlengwa participated on 7 March 2013 in a panel discussion on perspectives of the youth in Africa.
Welcome breakfast meeting with new KAS/SAIIA scholars
The country office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in South Africa on 15 Februrary 2013 hosted a breakfast meeting to welcome its three new scholars from the Southern African region and their mentors. Gillian Chigumira, Matshabana Mothiane and Rebecca Ramsamy are doing an internship at the renowned KAS partner, South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), alongside their master studies in international relations at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
UNITING BEHIND THE CONSTITUTION
Under the auspices of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and the FW de Klerk Foundation on a conference in Cape Town parliamentarians, academics, journalists and representatives of civil society discussed the values enshrined in the South African constitution such as non-racialism, human dignity, equality, the Rule of Law and multi-party democracy. Former State President and Nobel Peace laureate, F.W. de Klerk, called on his fellow countrymen to unite behind their Constitution.
COPE Party Leader Lekota visits Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
On 31 January 2013 the President of the Congress of the People (COPE), Mosiua Lekota MP, met with the resident representative of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in South Africa, Dr Holger Dix, and Trainee Marius Glitz for consultations at the KAS office in Johannesburg. The former Prime Minister of the Freestate province and appointed South African Minister of Defence expressed his interest in cooperating with KAS.
New German intern at KAS-office Cape Town
Michael Lorke (27) has started his internship at the KAS-office in Cape Town in January. He studied political science at the University of Heidelberg and will support the Foundation's work until the end of March. His focus of interest lies on the topics of International Relations and Security Policy.
KAS partner awarded best Think Tank in sub-Saharan Africa
The partner organisation of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in South Africa, South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), in a study by the „Think Tank und Civil Societies“ programme at the University of Pennsylvania, has been awarded best think tank in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 1934 SAIIA is one of the best reputed institutes in South African political research and consultancy. We congratulate our partner to its success and wish all the best for our future cooperation.
Book Launch
Friend or Foe? Dominant Party Systems in Southern Africa
Within southern Africa there has been a steady increase in the number of dominant party systems- systems where one party dominates over a prolonged period in an ostensibly democratic system with regular elections. The authors of this KAS-funded book, published by Juta, analyse how these dominant party systems influence the quality of democracy by comparing selected country case studies across the globe.
