Polity Author Articles

“By the early evening, the irresolute and weakened Ramaphosa slate left no one unscathed – not Mabuyane, not Lamola, not the Mkhize camp … the situation left a power vacuum in its wake. The bigger picture remained unresolved. There was no obvious successor to David Mabuza.”

As an ANC insider, Oscar van Heerden had a ringside seat at the ANC elective conference at NASREC in 2022. In Is the Party Over?, he presents a gripping account of how political power changed hands and what was at stake as Cyril Ramaphosa battled to strengthen his power. Van Heerden does not simply give us the numbers, the money, the delegates, the switching, the promises and the backstabbing. In this powerful account of the inner workings of a cripplingly divided political party, he is part of the story, having to contend with his great disappointment with the party of liberation.

Vivid and unputdownable, Is the Party Over?, is a future classic and a must-read for these testing times.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Oscar van Heerden is one of South Africa's foremost political analysts and authors. Oscar has written for publications, participated in several organisations, written columns, and challenged the political and social "status quo.” He has also held numerous executive positions.

'Is the Party Over?' is published by Jacana Media

The Chamber of Mines Research Organization (COMRO) was active for nearly 30 years, and developed a great many technologies benefitting the industry. It would be impossible to discuss all of these in detail – some selectivity was inevitable, and I have homed in on those that had (or in some instances should have had) the greatest impact on the development of improved methods for the mining of gold at great depths.

As the book is an anthology, it is only as good as the technological, personal accounts, and related people stories provided by the contributors, and I am extremely grateful to those who participated. Many of them indicated that their time with COMRO was possibly the most rewarding and satisfying period of their professional careers.

This book is the story of their achievements, peppered with personal anecdotes, and which hopefully will be of interest not only to those involved with COMRO’s research programmes and those who benefitted, but also anyone planning on improving current mining operations or restarting this type of research in future.

No biography – and certainly no anthology – can be complete, but I trust that the activities, events, and stories recounted here are representative of COMRO’s programme of R&D to improve productivity and the health and safety of its workforce.

There is lament about how and why the African National Congress have so quickly become preoccupied with material enrichment.

Former exile, business leader and political commentator, Oyama Mabandla, excavates the values that created a steady flow of pioneering South Africans under impossible circumstances, bolstered a liberation ethic and championed a leadership that made individual nobility and excellence aspirational.

These values, in retreat since 94, can still recapture the nation's best trajectory.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Oyama Mabandla is a lawyer and businessman. He holds a Juris Doctorate (JD) from Columbia University and a BA in Political Science from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and is a regular contributor to the media on the intersection of the arts and politics.

Soul of a Nation: A Quest for the Rebirth of South Africa's True Values is published by Tafelberg, an imprint of NB Publishers

In a gripping and eye-opening literary work, Nadine Dirks takes readers on a journey through her life as a young African woman from the Cape Flats battling chronic illness and the systemic challenges of racism, sexism, classism, fatphobia, and slut-shaming within the healthcare system.

Hot Water is a poignant narrative that offers a rare glimpse into the struggles faced by underprivileged individuals seeking adequate healthcare, while also highlighting the unique and often heart-wrenching experiences of African women. Endometriosis, a debilitating chronic illness, serves as the backdrop for Nadine Dirks’ powerful exploration.

The book delves into how this condition impacts the lives of young women, shaping their experiences and affecting their ability to navigate the world. Dirks paints a vivid picture of the complexities faced by those who rely on the public healthcare system and sheds light on the challenges they confront daily.

Hot Water serves as a catalyst for change. Her journey and revelations throughout the book are a call to action for a healthcare system that must address and rectify these deeply ingrained inequalities.

A courageous and unapologetic narrative, Hot Water dares to expose the harsh realities of living with a chronic illness while navigating a healthcare system fraught with prejudice and discrimination. Nadine Dirks’ words will resonate with readers and inspire much needed dialogue and change.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nadine Dirks is a writer, opinion-maker, activist and communications expert. Her work, interests and expertise lie in intersectional feminism, gender, sexuality. Including sexual and reproductive health and rights. She is dedicated to women’s health because of her own lived experience with endometriosis. She is an author, public speaker, moderator, and panelist. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Women and Gender Studies.

Hot Water is published by Jacana Media

Thami Nkadimeng, also known as The Message Architect, works with presidents, executives, corporate leaders and organisations worldwide to make positive change in the world. But before she could follow her calling, Thami had to stop looking for external validation and overcome her own self-doubt. In Finding Purpose, she takes us along in her quest to discover her life’s aim.

Thami shares her triumphs and tribulations in a heartfelt narrative that’s equal parts a confession of her mistakes and a celebration of her victories. This book is Thami’s ode to life, a testament to the joyous dance with existence we are all part of. Join her as she reflects on her journey, and discover the profound beauty in raw, unvarnished experience for yourself as you uncover your own purpose.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thami Nkadimeng is dynamic and has a great public profile. She’s a moderator, corporate MC and programme director with a background in communications and marketing. She is well versed in finance, mining, construction, IT, and business sectors. She lives in Johannesburg.

Finding Purpose: Lessons From The: Message Architect is published by Kwela Books, an imprint of NB Publishers

Has any war in history gone according to plan? Monarchs, dictators and elected leaders alike have a dismal record on military decision-making, from over-ambitious goals to disregarding intelligence, terrain, or enemy capabilities. This not only wastes the lives of civilians, the enemy and one’s own soldiers, but also fails to achieve geopolitical objectives, and usually lays the seeds for more wars down the line.

Conflict scholar and former soldier Mike Martin takes the reader through the hard, elegant logic to fighting a conclusive interstate war that solves geopolitical problems and reduces future conflict. In cool and precise prose, he outlines how to orchestrate military forces, from infantry to information, and from strategy to tactics.

How to Fight a War explains the unavoidable, yet seemingly elusive, art of using violence to force your enemies to do what you want. It should be read by everyone seeking to understand today’s wars, as well as those wishing to lead us through the coming decades of conflict.

An indispensable guide to understanding modern warfare, especially the decisions made by politicians and generals — both good and bad.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike Martin is Senior Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, where he speaks and writes on conflict. His previous books are ‘An Intimate War; Crossing the Congo’; and ‘Why We Fight’. He tweets about conflict and geopolitics as @Threshed Thought.

How To Fight A War is published by Delta Books and republished in South Africa by Jonathan Ball Publishers

What can be learned from black South Africans who achieved success before South Africa became a democracy in 1994? What are the challenges they faced, and how did they overcome them? And, today, how have South Africans benefited from the country’s democratic system of governance?

These are the questions Phumlani M. Majozi explores and attempts to answer in Lessons from Past Heroes.

He traces black people’s success and political activity back to the early 1900s; successful men and women who spearheaded the struggle against the segregationist, colonialist government and devoted their lives to advancing the interests of their communities. Phumlani explores the careers, challenges, and successes of people such as Pixley ka Isaka Seme, John Langalibalele Dube, Sol Plaatje and Josiah Tshangana Gumede.

During the apartheid years, South Africa produced black men and women who overcame the odds to succeed in their fields of business, entertainment, science, and politics. They excelled in the face of an oppressive government system, and their stories should inspire every South African today.

After exploring the history of South Africa, Phumlani delves into the present and the future; evaluating the challenges South Africans face and proposes solutions that can speed up their economic progress.

He argues that much of South Africa’s history has portrayed the majority as victims of the minority, and that the inspirational stories of those people who overcame adversity are not being told widely enough.

These stories must be told to inspire future generations.

If black South Africans could succeed in the pre-1994 era, what can stop them today? The answer is nothing, Phumlani writes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phumlani M. Majozi is a business and macroeconomics analyst, writer and commentator on economic, political and global issues. His writings have been published in City Press, African Liberty and News24 and he currently writes a weekly column for Politicsweb.

In June 2018 he became a Senior Fellow at African Liberty and his appointment involves research and writing on African politics and economics. He sits on the boards of four organisations: Chartered Institute of Business Accountants (CIBA), South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), Social Research Foundation (SRF) and Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA).

Phumlani has given talks in South Africa and Kenya on South Africa’s macro economy and politics, and also moderates conference panel discussions.

Lessons from Past Heroes: How the rejection of victimhood dogmas will save South Africa is published by Tracey McDonald Publishers