Nco Dube

The Social Commentator

  • The Challenge of Political Alliances: The Grand GNU White Lie

    In the context of the 2024 South African election, the distinction between a coalition government and a government of national unity is highlighted. The ANC’s proposal for a GNU has received mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a disguised… more ›

  • The Importance of Political Image in a Poor Country Like South Africa

    By Nco Dube   In many developing nations, the image and behaviour of politicians is a critical issue. Voters often feel a disconnect between the lavish lifestyles of their elected leaders and the harsh realities of poverty that most citizens… more ›

  • We Vote on 4 November. They Bargain on 5 November.

    South Africans now know how to vote a dominant party out of power. What we still do not know is whether our political parties know how to govern once power is shared. Since the coalition breakthroughs of 2016, too many… more ›

  • The Law That Promised Transformation but Could Not Listen

    Parliament set out to transform who benefits from the billions the state spends. Instead, it produced a law that could not survive a basic test of democracy: listening to the public. The Constitutional Court did not reject transformation. It exposed… more ›

  • The Party Is Expensive. Being Left Out Costs More.

    South Africans are not spending hundreds of billions on celebrations simply because we cannot do arithmetic. A wedding, graduation, unveiling or homecoming buys more than food, décor and photographs. It buys recognition, family standing, belonging and the public acknowledgement that… more ›

  • Eskom Survived Load-Shedding. Now It Must Survive Success.

    Eskom has achieved something many South Africans had stopped believing was possible: it has restored operational stability to a public institution that appeared trapped in permanent crisis. But recovery has exposed the next problem. Electricity is increasingly reliable, yet increasingly… more ›

  • Before South Africa Reopens the Gallows, It Must Answer the Hard Questions

    The death penalty debate is not about whether murderers deserve sympathy. Some crimes are so heinous that those who commit them may seem to forfeit any moral claim to it. The real question is whether the state should ever possess… more ›

  • The ANC’s Courage Stops at the Minister’s Door

    The ANC has discovered a principle: public officials must resist unlawful political instructions, even at the cost of their careers. It now wants Fannie Masemola called to account for failing to defy Senzo Mchunu’s directives. Fair enough. But where is… more ›

  • We Are Wearing Our Heritage Better Than We Are Teaching It

    South Africa celebrates its diverse heritage each September, showcasing cultural traditions and performing languages, yet a critical issue emerges: many cultures can be performed without effectively reproducing their knowledge. A notable instance occurred during Heritage Month when a student chose… more ›

  • We Cannot Argue Women Into Feeling Safe

    Nine women’s bodies have been found in and around Ekurhuleni. Yet part of the conversation has become an argument about whether police should warn women against running alone. The warning may be necessary, but women are asking a deeper question:… more ›

  • When the Speaker Becomes a Political Actor, the Legislature Loses

    The essence of parliamentary democracy is the separation of the Speaker’s role from political party interests. A recent judgment from the KwaZulu-Natal High Court highlights this vital distinction, stemming from the National Freedom Party’s internal conflict involving Mbali Shinga’s expulsion.… more ›

  • The ANC’s Candidate-List Fiasco Is a Governing Philosophy

    The ANC’s candidate-list issue reveals deeper governance flaws, showcasing a pattern of procrastination, neglect of warnings, and internal factionalism. The party failed to submit 181 candidates in key municipalities, blaming technical difficulties despite the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)… more ›