Publikationen

Provincial Government in South Africa

Umtata, 16–18 August 2000

South Africa is characterised by significant territorially defined communal diversities of, for example, culture, language, ethnicity as well as economic disparities. Historically, pluralist societies such as the United States, Switzerland and India opted for such devolution of power to states, regions or provinces so as to bring about national unity. National unity and political stability were equally influential in persuading the ANC leadership to agree to decentralisation of power to the provinces. The conference aimed at stimulating debate on the role and future of the provincial governments in South Africa and at generating proposals for capacity building and/or alternatives to the present political dispensation. The papers were a blend of theoretical and practical contributions to the ongoing debate around ways of ensuring efficiency, democracy and more responsive governments in the provinces. The conference therefore provided a forum to take a fresh look at the Constitution and to find a new balance in intergovernmental relations.

Social Market Economy and Morality – Contradictory or Complementary?

The economic concept known as “Social Market Economy” has played a central role in the political and social upheavals that the world has witnessed since 1989. These upheavals changed the face of Middle and Eastern Europe with profound implications for many parts of the globe including South Africa.

Constitution and Law IV: Developments in the Contemporary Constitutional State

2–3 November 2000, Faculty of Law, Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education

Report on the proceedings of a conference conducted in conjunction with Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education on Development in the Contemporary Constitutional State - which is a broad theme, though also focused within the ambit of legal scholarship and practice. The focus involved the two most topical issues in contemporary South Africa: the need for development and the development of constitutionalism. The conference addressed the theme in four sessions:The significance of constitutional values Urban and rural land planning and development Environmental law implications of mining The limitation of export risks

Southern Africa and Mercosur/l: Reviewing the Relationship and Seeking Opportunities

24–25 October 2000, São Paulo, Brazil

Two questions arose at the Sao Paulo event which the presentations essentially sought to address: Was there a common regional interest in progressing with a closer inter-regional relationship? If so, how could the relationship be taken forward?Until now, the regional relationship has conceptually been handled at two levels: first, at the political level under the broad rubric of “South–South” cooperation. This has included dealings through the Zone of Peace and Cooperation in the South Atlantic (ZPCSA), the Valdivia environmental groupingBut there is apparently more to the relationship than just freer trade and investment flows.Both Southern Africa and South America are grappling with the challenges of globalisation, of attempting to bridge the growing divide between what was described at the conference as “the digitally empowered and marginalised”. Closer cooperation might help to devise new norms, regimes and global architecture to cope with these difficulties by:developing strategies to reduce poverty, fight crime and narrow income disparitiesestablishing conditions of good public governance and assisting market reformssetting the standards for international best practice.

Democratic Transformation of Education in South Africa

27–28 September 2000, Stellenbosch Lodge Country Hotel, Stellenbosch

From Angola in the south-west through the Congos to Sudan in the north-west, a conflict zone exists which passes through the heart of Africa. Over the past four decades this has accounted for the death of millions, while contributing to the displacement of millions more. More depressing is the fact that contagion has occurred and now affects areas in Southern Africa, North and East Africa and West Africa.Many of these conflicts are intrastate and their roots often lie in contested perceptions of ethno-religious identity.

Globalisation and International Relations: Challenges and Opportunities for Provinces

31 August-1 September, Kromme Rhee, Stellenbosch

"Globalisation" is a popular term used by governments, businesses, academics and a range of diverse non-governmental organisations. It also, however, signifies a new paradigm within world politics and economic relations. While national governments for many years dictated the international political and economic scene, international organisations such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation have now become significant roleplayers. In this "global village" national governments have lost some of their importance and perhaps their powers in favour of these major international organisations.Within the variety of federal systems found around the world there is at least one common denominator, namely that there is more than one level or sphere of government with constitutionally allocated powers and functions. In these systems the changes in global or international relations referred to above have an additional effect on the particular countries. It causes provinces, states or Länder to re-evaluate their role, in particular their role in international relations. Global matters – for example the creation of a free trade area – impacts at both the national or federal level of government, as well as at the provincial level.

Local Government Elections 2000: From Transition to Consolidation

20–21 September 2000, Cedar Park Convention Centre, Woodmead, Johannesburg

Fundamental to democracy is the notion that “the people shall govern”. This implies that structures andsystems are in place that provide citizens with a democratic right and responsibility to become involvedin government and governance. The goal motivating the transformation of local government is to developa framework and process that allows for effective government. This is a process that seeks to workclosely with local citizens and communities to find ways of meeting their needs and developing strategies to improve their quality of life. Furthermore, it seeks innovative methods to enhance and sustain the delivery of services, especially to those communities most in need.

The Future of South Africa’s Constituency System

Rietvleidam, 5 July 2000

As a result of recent calls by politicians, civil society and the media for changes to South Africa’s constituency system for public representatives, the Khululekani Institute for Democracy – in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation – held a conference entitled The Future of South Africa’s Constituency System at Rietvleidam on 5 July 2000. The aim of the conference was to assess and evaluate the effectiveness and future of South Africa’s electoral system, as well as to discuss and propose ways of strengthening the linkages between public representatives and citizens.

Opposition in South Africa’s New Democracy

28–30 June 2000, Kariega Game Reserve, Eastern Cape

Following its triumph in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) was again returned to power, this time with almost two-thirds of the vote, and hence because of South Africa’s adoption of the national list system of proportional representation, nearly two-thirds of themembers of parliament (MPs). This result appeared to reinforce analysis which suggested that the ANC was becoming a ‘dominant’ political party – that is, one that was unlikely to lose any electoral contest for national power in the foreseeable future.This in turn aroused fears in some quarters that the ANC might become increasingly unaccountable, and perhaps increasingly arrogant in its use of the state machinery. Consequently, the post election period saw the development of a debate in the media about what role opposition parties – apparently excluded from power long term (although the Inkatha Freedom Party continued to serve as a juniorpartner in government with the ANC) – should and could play, especially given their state of fragmentation.A larger number of difficult questions began to be posed: should the opposition parties seek to combine, and if so, along what lines and around what principles? Should they seek to oppose ‘robustly’ or ‘constructively’? Was there a danger that unity amongst particular opposition parties might bring about a further racialisation of South African politics?

Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in South Africa

17–19 May 2000, Sizanani Centre, Bronkhorstpruit

The conference was organised by the Economics Desk: Justice and Peace Department of the Southern African Catholic Bishop’s Conference, together with the Bethlehem Social Academy and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The Justice and Peace Department believes it is important for local people to be involved with local government in the process of transformation, since this is their democratic right according to the national constitution. Economic literacy is therefore one of our main programmes, the aim of which is to help people play a more meaningful role in their communities.