Parliamentary Research Programme 2024
4 June 2024 - 21 June 2024
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung supports internships in the South African Parliament that are called the Parliamentary Research programme. . This programs aim is to enable participants to learn how politics and parliament function. As part of the programme, participants work within a political party's research and communications team in Parliament. Applications for this programme intake will close on 21 June 2024. To apply, click HERE. What is it? A full time, four month placement as a researcher for a political party at Parliament in Cape Town (5 August - 13 December 2024). KAS pays a monthly stipend to assist with living expenses,...
Parliamentary Research Programme 2023
31 March 2023
KAS funds research internships in the South African parliament. As part of the programme, you work within the research team of political parties and find out how politics and parliament function. This intake will focus on political communications. Applications for this programme intake closed on 31 March 2023. What is it? A full time, six month placement as a researcher for a political party at Parliament in Cape Town (2 May - 1 November 2023). KAS pays a monthly stipend to assist with living expenses, as well as funds airtime and required travel. The stipend amount is at internship level....
Online launch of CREDO's new book, Democracy under pressure: Resilience or Retreat
24 February 2023
Please join the Centre for Research on Democracy (CREDO) at Stellenbosch University and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung for the online launch of CREDO's new book, Democracy under pressure: Resilience or Retreat. At this event, the book introduced in broad terms and the two authors of the chapter comparing Kenya and South Africa outline their findings. Date: 24 February 2023 Time: 14:45 - 16:00 SAST The event can be accessed above via Youtube and via this link: https://event.webinarjam.com/login/oxrp4tpptw5bpmu0sz About the book: This book identifies the main factors shaping the fortunes of democracy globally. Why do some democracies in the same region and presumably...
COUNTERING THE CORRUPT: Reform of the Criminal Justice Administration in South Africa
6 February 2023
Chief Justice Zondo was scathing in his final report of the State Capture Commission, pointing to industrial scale fraud, looting, corruption, and massive deficit in integrity, accountability and hence governance, leading to citizens being unable to access their basic human rights as enshrined in our Constitution. President Ramaphosa himself, when receiving the final report, expressed the deep sense of shame, embarrassment and betrayal by the governing party, and many leaders in Government and the private sector, implicated in state capture, corruption and wrongdoing, and invited citizens with the requisite skills and expertise to come forward in helping fix the country...
African Economies in Transition – Lessons from South Africa and implications for the continent.
6 December 2022
Africa and Germany are connected by close economic relations, which are discussed and deepened every two years at the German-African Business Summit. On the side-lines of the summit the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and the Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft invite you to our event African Economies in Transition – Lessons from South Africa and implications for the continent. This will take place on December 6th, 2022, from 13:00 to 14:15 SAST online. As special guests for our expert-loaded panel we will welcome: Mmusi Maimane Founder and Leader Build One South Africa (BOSA) Savannah Maziya Executive Chairperson, Bunengi Group, South Africa Gunter Rieck Moncayo...
The return to history? The erosion of liberal democracy and the rise of new totalitarianism
29 November 2022
Join us on for an online launch of the paper "The erosion of liberal democracy and the rise of new totalitarianism" authored by Prof. Nicola de Jager, with Prof. Kaufmann as a respondent. In this paper Prof de Jager puts forward a thesis – the return to history. Rather than society being on an inevitable path towards human progress, it has the potential to reverse and repeat historical mistakes. Please find the discussed paper by clicking
Ethical Leadership in Conflict
14 September 2022
South Africa has historically positioned itself as a neutral party in the face of conflict, a champion of peace and consensus building, working to facilitate constructive engagement in conflict situations. SA has again emphasised the importance of enabling dialogue between the warring parties in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Despite this, concerns are being raised about the SA’s credibility in encouraging peace when the country has not effectively addressed violence and threats of violence. The July unrest in 2021 and ongoing attacks on foreign nationals are notable. What is the role of ethical leadership in the face of ongoing conflict? Join Nompumelelo...
Anti-Migrant Sentiment in South Africa
28 July 2022
On the 21st June Yeoville Market went up in flames in a suspected xenophobic attack. Since the xenophobic attacks of 2008 which claimed the lives of 62 people there have been sporadic attacks on foreigners and foreign owned shops in South Africa. Out of the 62 people who were killed in 2008,21 were South Africans though the attacks were motivated by xenophobia. Xenophobia does not only affect foreigners it affects society as a whole. The announcement by the Minister of Home Affairs to terminate the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) will put many permit holders in a compromising position. South Africa has...
State Capture under Parliament's watch: Wilful blindness?
6 July 2022
Please join the Parliamentary Monitoring Group and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung as we host an expert panel to reflect on the implications of the Zondo Commission reports on Parliament. How correct is OUTA in stating that: that "Parliament is “ineffective, indecorous and symbolic”, its rules [...] inadequate [...]. Members of Parliament aided and abetted state capture looters"? A recording of this event is available by clicking on the following link: https://event.webinarjam.com/go/replay/109/pl2p4a3yumlaynfq Our guests: Prof Hugh Corder (UCT Law) Dr Martin Nicol (Non-Partisan Researcher in Parliament 2014-2019) MP Cilliers Brink (Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister in Parliament) Ms Monique Doyle (PMG Head Researcher)...
Parliamentary Research Programme 2022
30 May 2022 - 14 June 2022
Applications for this programme closed on 14 June 2022. KAS funds research internships in the South African parliament. As part of the programme, you work within the research team of political parties and find out how politics and parliament function. What is it? A full time, five month placement as a researcher for a political party at Parliament in Cape Town (18 July - 12 December 2022). KAS pays a monthly stipend to assist with living expenses, as well as funds airtime and required travel. The stipend amount is at internship level. Who is eligible? Individuals with postgraduate qualifications in...
Building capability of the state to engage non-state actors
19 May 2022
Who can help the state deliver effective governance? Join this online discussion on how society can respond to the gap left by a retreating state. The notion of South Africa’s ‘disappearing state’ was exemplified in 2021 when Clover closed South Africa’s biggest cheese factory, citing poor service delivery by the Ditsobotla local municipality. 420 jobs were lost, devastating the small town of Lichtenburg. It made visible a state in retreat, in which only 27 of 257 municipalities achieved clean audits. There is an increasing understanding that improving state capability will require increased engagement with non-state societal actors to promote collaboration,...
In the Throes of "the People": The Populist Challenge to South African Courts
12 May 2022
"The danger of populism, as we have seen, is that it pits 'the people' against independent, democratic and constitutional institutions to cultivate a negative public sentiment about them" (Dan Mafora) Join the discussion of 'In the Throes of "the People": The Populist Challenge to South African Courts'. Dan Mafora, the author, will be joined by Sfiso Nxumalo and Chelsea Ramsden. The paper interrogates the populist attacks on the courts, considers the effects of such attacks and seeks to provide potential strategies for warding off those attacks and safeguarding the courts' institutional integrity. Terms & Conditions: By participating in this...
Whites and Democracy in South Africa
31 March 2022
Please join us for a virtual book launch and conversation with Roger Southall, Joanne Joseph and Christi van der Westhuizen. The conversation will be centred around the book's central theme, which questions how whites have responded politically to the arrival of democracy in South Africa. It asks the following questions: -What is the place and role of whites in South Africa today? -Are whites genuinely willing participants in a 'non-racial democracy', willing to forego the racial privileges of the past? -Have they proved reluctant to relinquish power? Roger Southall argues that many whites have chosen to embrace the...
Anti-corruption efforts in South Africa today
9 December 2021
South Africa's democracy and ability to uplift its people are under mortal threat through corruption, theft and looting. To commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day, Accountability Now and #TheMidpointSA co-host this webinar to explore the current state of fighting corruption in South Africa before the publication of the Zondo Commission report. Moderated by Justice Goldstone, please join our esteemed participants from the political, prosecution and NGO sectors. A recording of this conversation is available here: https://event.webinarjam.com/go/replay/96/38xmqhqoc0lu12t5 For more information on the hosts, please visit https://accountabilitynow.org.za/corruption/ https://themidpoint.org.za/ @Accountnow_SA @KAS_SouthAfrica
Wayne Sussman on Local Government Elections
1 December 2021
What just happened? Join Wayne Sussman for a tour through the 2021 local government elections. Now that the figures have been crunched and studied, Wayne Sussman, fondly known as 'the Elections Geek', will unpack the results of the November elections and share his insights. Did the ANC and DA do as badly as reported? How did the EFF perform? What is there to make of the rise of ActionSA, Freedom Front Plus and the Patriotic Alliance? Sussman will look at the current coalition politics, affecting an unprecedented number of municipal councils, and what this mean for the next five years...
ESG and good corporate governance in relation to the use of pension funds
10 November 2021
Recently, banks and investment firms publicly stated a withdrawal of their support for businesses without plans to transition away from reliance on non-renewable energy resources. It is clear that shareholder returns are no longer the only metric under consideration when shaping investment portfolios. ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) is gaining traction as a measure of the collective consciousness of organisations towards environmental and social responsibility. The influence of ESG in boardrooms is increasingly driving investment-based decision-making. But what are the knock-on effects for pension fund investments? How much weight should ESG principles carry, and what role does shareholder activism play...
Local Government Elections 2021-Does SA have a religiously motivated electorate?
26 October 2021
The webinar is based on a paper written by Dr Siphiwe Dube titled A Religiously Motivated Electorate in South Africa? South Africa is a predominantly religious country with four main religions Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, traditional African religions and Judaism. Dr Dube’s paper explores the intersection of religion and elections in the context of South Africa. It does so through a comparative analysis of the South African context in relation to other African countries where similar work exists. The aim is to contextualise the South African experience within the broader African context, as well as to point out some differences that...
Voter Mobilisation: Making voting appealing to South Africa non-voters
14 October 2021
How to get non-voters to vote As a measure of participation, voter turnout is a good indicator of the health of a democracy. In South Africa, the IEC calculates voter turnout as a percentage of the number of registered voters that vote on election day. But that number doesn’t tell us the full story. Not everyone that is eligible to vote registers to vote. An estimated 13 million eligible voters have not registered to vote for the 1 November local government elections. Join Nompumelelo Runji; Policy and Political Analysis from Critical ThinkAR at the next Business Day DialoguesLIVE, in partnership...
A Judiciary under Siege-Reflections from the JSC 2021 judges' interviews
1 October 2021
This online discussion follows the research paper A judiciary under Siege-Reflections from the JSC 2021 judges' interviews written by Azwimpheleli (Azwi) Langalanga. Our distinguished panellists will be responding to the research while stating some of the issues CASAC observes regarding challenges facing the judiciary in general. The online discussion also aims to reflect on the reasons behind court actions and the panellists' academic views and personal experiences concerning the fact that the interviews will be held again.
Ending hunger and securing our future
23 September 2021
Poverty and inequality are not just statistical measures but have tangible consequences for people’s daily lives. Millions of people globally live with the reality of hunger. Concerns about food security are usually raised in discussions about land reform and protection of commercial agriculture, however millions of South Africans are already grappling with food insecurity daily. While soup kitchens and feeding schemes have their place, ending hunger requires policy reforms and a multi-sectoral approach. How do we forge concrete partnerships to address the complex challenge of food security, hunger and nutrition in South Africa? Join Joanne Joseph at the next Business...
Violent political language - an attack on the nation?
7 September 2021
Realising the Constitution in the face of delegitimising rhetoric We are excited to present our next offering to you: "Violent political language - an attack on the nation?" Join this thought-provoking discussion with Judge Albie Sachs, Dr Klaus Kotzé and Mr Ongama Mtimka, moderated by Ms Rebecca Sibanda. The event launches Dr Kotzé's new paper "25 years of the South African Constitution - Reflections and Realisations", and takes place on Tuesday, 7 Sep 2021, 10:00 AM (SAST).
Grassroots Governance and Accountability: How do we build trust and make it happen
26 August 2021
The failures of leadership in government over a number of years has plummeted South Africa into a precarious socio-economic position, with foreign investment scared from our shores. The vacuum in leadership is felt most by those already living in disadvantaged communities, where their interests are not heard or adequately served. The vacuum also leaves room for thuggery, extortion, and further exploitation of vulnerable individuals. Against this backdrop, we ask; 'How do we build honest, ethical, and effective grassroots level leadership in SA?' Join the Business Day Dialogues in association with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Ecumenical Foundation of Southern Africa as Business, Religious, Academic and Civil Society leaders...
Can a country dogged by political crisis and poverty build a common vision and social cohesion?
18 August 2021
Despite more than a quarter-century of democracy and majority rule, the divide between the have’s and the have-nots has widened, with the top 10 % of the population having 95% of the wealth (StatsSA 2017). South Africa has one of the world’s highest Gini coefficients— the statistical measure of the economic disparity within a population. The destructive frenzy of looting that recently battered parts of KZN and Gauteng bears witness to the frustration of poverty and economic exclusion. Against this backdrop, we ask; 'how do we go about building a cohesive, strong and equitable society?' Join the Business Day Dialogues...
Electoral Reform:Can we build a better democracy?
7 July 2021
By June 2022, Parliament must amend SA’s electoral law to allow independent candidates to contest national and provincial elections, as ordered by the Constitutional Court. Current proposals suggest introducing some constituency voting into our proportional representations system. Which party would benefit and would politicians become more accountable to voters? Will independent candidates have a real chance to succeed?
Corona Parliament: Virtually Working?
5 May 2021
At this event, Rebecca Sibanda of the Parliamentary Monitoring Group will launch and discuss the findings of her new paper: Implications of a Virtual Parliament on its Constitutional Mandate. In the paper, she reviews the performance of South Africa's Parliament during the Covid-19 epidemic. Enriching and challenging her conclusions will be Marianne Merten of the Daily Maverick. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung thanks the Parliamentary Monitoring Group for its collaboration in this research. Terms & Conditions: By participating in this online event, you agree that the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung may contact you for future events and other occasions. You agree that we may save...
FVZS Honorary Lecture 10th Year Celebration 2021: Debating Electoral Reform
29 March 2021
https://youtu.be/9Cs3ndPtXbs First published in Die Matie Student Newspaper, By Pierré Müller 10 months ago The Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development (FVZS) celebrates its 10th anniversary with an honorary lecture on political governance in South Africa. The celebration of the anniversary will serve as a tribute to Dr Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert, the institute’s namesake. Dr Van Zyl Slabbert, a South African politician and analyst, left behind a legacy which inspired the founding of the FVZS institute in 2011. According to FVZS, they wish to echo his dedication and build upon it by emphasizing the importance of being an...
South Africa Under Lockdown Governance
26 March 2021
The discussion, which follows a research paper by Dr Ralph Mathekga of the same name, will assess: - The legislative response by the government in South Africa in its response to the outbreak and spread of the Covid-19 pandemic - The coordination framework and stakeholder engagement platforms, put into place by the government in its national response - Whether the government can be said to have acted democratically during the state of emergency, particularly in the first few weeks of the lockdown in the country Joining us will be Laurence Caromba, lecturer in International Relations at the University of Johannesburg,...
Managing the Security Council in Difficult Times
11 March 2021
The Foreign Policy Forum: Regional Powers in Global Politics accompanies South Africa's membership in the UN Security Council during its two-year term in 2019-2020. It consists of a series of roundtables each dedicated to a particular theme. The overarching topic is the role of regional powers in global affairs which is characterized by a return of great power politics and erosion of multilateralism. Each roundtable consists of a select group of local and international experts. In this fifth event, we are looking back at the last two years and explore achievements and controversies which accompanied the terms of South Africa...
Poor Education, Poor Economy - and Planning the Escape.
25 February 2021
The South African education system is in crisis. According to Statistics SA, half of all learners drop out of school before reaching matric. The government fails learners in poor communities by failing to provide schools with adequate infrastructure and qualified teachers. Inequality in South Africa is exacerbated by an education system which does not adequately prepare learners for the world of work. Learners from disadvantaged communities cannot compete with their peers from affluent communities. The webinar will focus on a paper Poor Education, Poor Economy and Planning the Escape by Prof Philippe Burger. Prof Burger will present data which provides:...
Democracy in former British Colonies: which way does SA go?
27 January 2021
Experts unpack and compare the path and nature of democracy in various territories colonised by the British. Click here to read the book.
Unpacking the South African Non-voter
8 December 2020
This webinar launches an in-depth research paper by Dr Collette Schulz-Herzenberg that delves into this crucial topic. On 8 May 2019, South Africans voted in their sixth democratic national and provincial elections. A record 26.7 million eligible South Africans registered to vote in the election. The registered population represented 74.6% of the total voting age population, of over 35.8 million. Over 17.6 million voters participated on election day, yet electoral participation decreased quite dramatically, accelerating the steady decline in voter turnout across South Africa’s previous democratic elections. Voter turnout is regarded as a crucial indicator of the vitality and health of a democracy. High...
Covid19 and AfCFTA: How Africa can help itself
27 October 2020
Africa’s most ambitious project, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is nearing its commercial phase. Delayed, but not thwarted by the Covid-19 pandemic, an enormous joint effort between the African Union (AU), the AfCFTA Secretariat and deal signatories is underway in a final push to realise continental free trade at the start of 2021. This webinar examines the new challenges the coronavirus presents for Africa’s integration and how they need to be overcome, as well as the opportunities that may arise from broader global developments currently at play. Join Ronak Gopaldas when he presents his new paper on those...