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On 28 May 2026, KAS South Africa partnered with the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre (CTHGC) to host a Scholar Day focused on the fragility of democracy and the importance of collective responsibility.
The day began with a presentation on the Weimar Republic and the rise of National Socialism in Germany, tracing how a constitutional democracy with free elections gradually transformed into an authoritarian regime. This historical context set the stage for a guided tour of the CTHGC’s permanent exhibition. Participants were encouraged to look past simple commemoration. Instead, they were asked to identify the specific social and political processes, such as exclusion, the erosion of norms, and declining civic responsibility, that lead to democratic collapse. The group drew connections to present-day challenges throughout the tour, reinforcing the exhibition’s core message that memory serves as an analytical tool rather than just a historical record.
Following the tour, a reflection session gave scholars the opportunity to process what they had seen and heard. This was followed by a session on identity and empowerment through poetry, which invited participants to explore questions of voice, dignity, and belonging. This exercise helped ground the broader political themes in personal experience.
The afternoon session focused on the Future Voters Workshop, titled "Democracy, Leadership and Choice." This was a structured simulation created by CTHGC to build critical civic literacy. Participants analysed three fictional South African election candidates: a populist-nationalist, a theocratic-conservative, and a reformist democrat. The scholars were tasked with more than just choosing a candidate; they had to interrogate the societal vision behind each platform, consider the implications for democratic freedoms, and weigh the long-term consequences of each policy.
The formal programme ended with a plenary session that wove together the themes of the day into a conversation about what it means to be an informed, responsible citizen. Everyone agreed that democracy is something that should never be taken for granted. The day concluded with a dinner, where KAS scholars met with Ms. Nora Beckershaus-Bottler, a journalist, strategist, and digital media specialist. Her talk, "Crafting your personal narrative for professional success," drew on her extensive experience in international newsrooms and executive advisory roles. She guided the scholars on how to translate their academic and civic work into compelling personal narratives, providing a worthwhile conclusion to a day centered on identity and civic duty.
The takeaway from every session was clear: democratic stability depends on more than just institutions. It relies on the informed, critical, and active engagement of the people. Remembrance, accountability, and civic participation are not optional extras for a democracy; they are its foundation.
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