Nco Dube

The Social Commentator

  • SONA 2026: Between Reassurance and Reckoning

    Feb 16

    President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ninth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2026 was characterized by a mixture of cautious optimism and skepticism. The President focused on stability and incremental progress amidst ongoing economic and social challenges. Key themes included economic… more ›

  • The Quiet Unravelling of Eskom: When Reform Becomes Dispossession

    Feb 16

    In Nco Dube’s analysis of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2026 State of the Nation Address, he delves into the implications of proposed energy reforms in South Africa. The President’s assurance of modernized energy systems and private investment contrasts sharply with the… more ›

  • Radio and the Rise of AI: Keeping the Soul While Embracing the Signal

    Feb 13

    In the reflection on World Radio Day, Nco Dube emphasises the enduring intimacy and connection of radio amidst the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in South Africa. While AI can enhance the medium by automating tasks and improving reach, Dube… more ›

  • Zulu Nationalism Without a Nation: Power, Memory and the Politics of Invention

    Feb 12

    Zulu nationalism is resurging in South Africa, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, as the country approaches the 2024 elections. This revival is not a grassroots movement but rather a strategic tool utilized by political elites to exert control when threatened. Political scientist… more ›

  • SONA 2026: The Performance of Stability, The Absence of Disruption

    Feb 11

    President Cyril Ramaphosa’s upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) on February 11, 2026, will occur under the challenging context of South Africa’s Government of National Unity. While Ramaphosa has made progress on energy stability, with over 266 days without… more ›

  • When Arrogance Meets Amnesia: Khusela Diko, the ANC, and the Politics of Lost Moral Authority

    Jan 28

    Khusela Diko, an ANC leader, recently engaged in a contentious exchange on social media, highlighting the ANC’s credibility crisis. Her dismissive tone, especially regarding the PPE scandal linked to her, reflects a broader pattern of arrogance within the ANC. Despite… more ›

  • Robert McBride and the Politics of Selective Memory: A Country’s Uneasy Relationship With Its Own Heroes

    Jan 22

    By Nco Dube | 22 January 2026 South Africa has always had a complicated relationship with its struggle heroes. We celebrate them in song, in murals, in the sepia-toned nostalgia of public holidays, yet we recoil when they appear before… more ›

  • The West’s Late Awakening: Mark Carney’s Davos Speech Is Not Renewal, it’s an Elegy

    Jan 21

    Mark Carney’s speech at Davos has drawn significant praise from Western elites, yet it highlights a troubling amnesia regarding the historical context of the global order, especially its selective application favoring the powerful. Critics from the Global South argue that… more ›

  • The ANC on January 8: A Glorious Past, A Fractured Present, and an Uncertain Tomorrow

    Jan 8

    The African National Congress (ANC) has been a pivotal force in South Africa’s history, transitioning from a symbol of liberation to a fractured party grappling with internal strife and declining public trust. Initially a beacon of hope and unity, the… more ›

  • Why Isolationism is Not an Option for South Africa

    Jan 5

    The article argues that South Africa’s international engagement is crucial for its domestic well-being, countering the notion that global issues are irrelevant to local life. Global interdependence means that international crises affect South African economics, from commodity prices to currency… more ›

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