


Nationalisation is Not Socialism
Terry Bell Nationalise the mines. That is a demand taken up loudly in recent months by the Economic Freedom Fighters. It is a demand long made by many in the labour movement and it has been given added impetus with the Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) deision to dispose of, or close down, some […]

Reflections of a First-Time Voter
In the past few weeks the men and women of the township I grew up in have been asking one another “Who are you voting for?” in addition to “How are you?”. I heard someone say once, referencing some political theorist or other, that the only democratic thing about democracy is an election, but […]

Should You Spoil Your Vote?
It’s perfectly reasonable to be dissatisfied with the electoral process. We might struggle to find a voter in any jurisdiction who can’t present a case for how things could be better, whether the improvement were to come from revisions to party funding legislation or the accountability of elected officials to those of us who […]

Fear and Loathing in the ANC
A year after the African National Congress held its national conference in Mangaung, which returned president Jacob Zuma to its top position, The Con republishes a two-piece special that examines the Fear and Loathing in South African politics which first appeared in Rolling Stone magazine. Part two will be published on Monday. All photographs: Oupa […]