Marikana Commission’s findings cast light on urgency of labour law reform
Following the tragic killing of striking miners at the Lonmin Mine in Marikana on 16 August 2012, South Africa’s government established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate matters of ‘public, national and international concern’ arising out of the tragic event. Three years on, the release of the Commission’s final report has provoked hostile reactions from many quarters.
BRICS and climate change
Reflecting the broadening of the BRICS agenda since the grouping was formed in 2009, the first ever meeting of BRICS environment ministers was held in Russia in April 2015.
South African Foreign Policy and the UN Security Council: Assessing its Impact on the African Peace and Security Architecture
South Africa’s two terms – 2007–2008 and 2011–2012 – as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) has received limited scholarly attention. And yet this is a period that saw South African foreign policy assume a truly global stature, weighing in on issues as significant as human rights in Myanmar and crises as challenging as humanitarian intervention in Libya and Syria.
25th AU Summit: Political risk and FDI in Africa
The signing of the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement (TFTA) two weeks ago in Egypt between three of Africa’s major economic blocs COMESA, the EAC and SADC is an important development for intra-African trade and investment.
Climate Geopolitics: an Opportunity for Africa to Become a Trailblazer?
Ahead of the UN Conference of Parties (COP 21) meeting in December 2015, which it is hoped will deliver a universal, legally binding climate agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol by 2020, Paris is hosting an International Scientific Conference (ISC) from 7–10 July.
The BRICS Academic Forum: A preview of issues for the 2015 BRICS Summit
Some five weeks ago I attended the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) Academic Forum in Moscow as part of the South African delegation. The discussions held there provide interesting insights into the future direction of the BRICS group.
Climate Finance: Lessons from Rwanda
Developed countries have made little progress in providing climate finance for the transition towards low emission and climate-adaptive development pathways in developing countries.
Presidential term limits: a new African foreign policy challenge
A coup d’état in Burkina Faso in October 2014 thwarted attempts by West Africa’s former regional strongman Blaise Compaoré to extend his stay in power.
Rapid response an elusive political project?
Preceding this month’s 25th African Union (AU) summit in Johannesburg a meeting of the AU Specialized Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security committed again to fully operationalise an African Standby Force (ASF) by December this year. The ASF has been ten years in the planning, and in that time has failed to establish a rapid response tool to deal with conflict on the continent.
Advancing Africa’s Position on Global Climate Finance
Unblocking the climate finance negotiations will unlock a new global agreement on climate change in Paris later this year.