Warm-up für Mangaung

Der diesjährige Zwischenparteitag des ANCs fand gut sechs Monate vor dem entscheidenden Wahlparteitag statt. Obwohl Präsident Jacob Zuma mit seinem Konzept des „zweiten Übergangs“ Stimmen hinter sich versammeln wollte um gestärkt nach Mangaung fahren zu können, endete die Tagung so gut wie ergebnislos.

Traditional Courts in South Africa

A stumbling block on the road towards a modern constitutional state?

The controversial Traditional Courts Bill (TBC), which was taken off the parliamentary schedule in 2008 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional, has reappeared on the political agenda. Critics claim that the reappearance of the Bill is not a coincidence but a strategic move by President Jacob Zuma to secure political support, particularly amongst traditional leaders, for his reelection as presidential candidate at the ANC’s elective conference in December 2012. The report by KAS intern Tobias Reinauer illustrates the pros and cons of Traditional Courts in today's South Africa.

The Responsibility to Protect

Views from South Africa, Brazil, India and Germany

In light of the intervention in Libya and the crisis in Syria, several states are reflecting on their positions on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). As a reaction to the on-going debate, a dialogue meeting was held in Pretoria on 7 June. Researchers, students and government representatives from India, Brazil, South Africa and Germany discussed the concept of R2P, including its various interpretations, applications and shortcomings – and the way forward.

The Youth Wage Subsidy

Fighting Youth Unemployment in South Africa

In May 2012 demonstrations in Johannesburg for the implementation of the youth wage subsidy resulted in brutal street fights between members of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu). This has been the peak of the conflict that was sparked by President Jacob Zuma’s announcement to implement such a subsidy to address the pressing issue of youth unemployment in South Africa. KAS intern Tobias Reinauer analyses the different views and position on this hotly debated issue.

Wasserversorgung in Südafrika

Herausforderungen und Lösungsstrategien

Der Zugang zu sauberem Wasser ist in der südafrikanischen Verfassung verankert. Dennoch war im Jahr 2011 fast jeder zehnte Südafrikaner von der Versorgung mit sauberem Trinkwasser abgeschnitten. Das in der Verfassung festgeschriebene Recht ist damit bis heute nicht erfüllt. Südafrika ist mit seinem warmen, trockenen Klima und saisonalen Regenfällen ein wasserarmes Land. Infolge des Klimawandels ist mit einer weiteren Verschärfung der Situation zu rechnen. Wie reagiert die Regierung auf diese Herausforderung?

Ethics, Education and Economy

Challenges and new directions

"Ethics, Education and Economy: Challenges and new directions” was the title of a conference organised by Konrad Adenauer Foundation in cooperation with St. Augustine College, held at the College’s auditorium in Johannesburg on the 2nd and 3rd of May 2012. The conference was the third of a series that focuses on challenges to the economic system in South Africa.

Climate Smart Cape Town Legacy Report

The „Climate Smart Cape Town Campaign“, launched by the City of Cape Town, aims at spreading awareness of the issues around climate change, as well as informing about the City’s measures and initiatives to counteract its effects. Supported by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a first Legacy Report has been published, available here for download.

Two events, many anniversaries

KAS SOUTH AFRICA CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTITUTION

Four anniversaries in total were commemorated in two separate KAS events, one held in Johannesburg on May 15th 2012, the other in Cape Town on May 17th.

Forschungspartnerschaften stärken – für Innovation und nachhaltige Entwicklung

Deutsch-Südafrikanisches Jahr der Wissenschaft 2012/2013

„Unser Ziel ist es, globale Verantwortung zu tragen und nachhaltigen Innovationen den Weg zu bereiten“ – Prof. Dr. Annette Schavan, aus ihrer Eröffnungsrede zum Deutsch-Südafrikanischen Wissenschaftsjahr am 16.04.2012 in Kapstadt. Ein Bericht von Jonathan von Gutzeit, Intern im KAS-Büro Kapstadt

Kony 2012: Taking A Closer Look At The Social Media Sensation

Chris Roper on the activist online video that made global headlines & the African perspective

More than 135 million views made the activist video “Kony 2012” an online sensation. It also redefined what social media can achieve. South Africa’s leading online journalist Chris Roper takes a closer look at the phenomenon.