Research Articles (Political Science (Mil))

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The complexities of Neo-Liberalism in Post-Apartheid South Africa
(Lifescience Global, 2019) Breakfast, N. B.
This article examines the contradictions and complexities of the model of development pursuit by the African National Congress (ANC) government in post-apartheid- South Africa. The article intends to shed some light on the current economic trajectory of South Africa by arguing that although there are some elements of neo-liberalism in government policies, namely: privatisation of services, inflation targeting and Public-Private Partnerships. However, the expansion of the size and the role of the South African state, are anti-neo-liberal. This is a qualitative literature assessment article; because it is based on desktop research. This article is located within the Marxism and Leninism tradition as a standpoint theory. This ontological approach is chosen owing to its meticulousness in teasing out the complexities of the capitalist mode of production. The aim of this article is to lay bare the different aspects of the mixed-bag approach of development employed by the South African government by asserting that is not simply neo-liberal in nature though to some extent it is inspired by market-friendly policies. This also indicates the gaps in the discourse with regard to the implementation of neo-liberalism in South Africa. This article contributes to the South African political economy debate by arguing that neo-liberalism has contradictions and complexities; it is not simplistic and straightforward.
Editorial
(Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Military Science (Military Academy), 2021) Kleynhans, Evert Philippus
No abstract available
Enhancing diversity via affirmative action : a case study of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
(AOSIS, 2019) Breakfast, Ntsikelelo B.; Maart, Brigitte
Background: This article examines diversity within the context of affirmation action, with specific reference to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act 55 of 1998), is a policy instrument through which affirmation action and organisational diversity are promoted in post-apartheid South Africa to increase the economic participation of designated groups. Aim: Against this background, the aim of this article is to investigate the influence of the Employment Equity Act, 1998, on diversity management in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Setting: The guiding research question of this article is: what is the effective way of implementing affirmative action measures through Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act 55 of 1998), in particular in promoting diversity in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality? Methods: A qualitative approach is employed to explore and describe the complexities at play in this article. Results: The findings of this article suggest that the goal and vision of diversity management should consistently be communicated in clear terms to all affected, especially the employees as they are most affected by it. Conclusion: This article contributes to the scholarship of Public Administration and Management surrounding the ongoing debate in South Africa with regard to transformation, organisation diversity and policy implementation of affirmative action. The central thesis of this article is that adequate policy execution of diversity and employment equity will improve service delivery alongside customer satisfaction.
Market triumphalism at the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipalities, South Africa
(AOSIS, 2014) Breakfast, Ntsikelelo; Okafor, Chukwuemeka; Bradshaw, Gavin
This article is a critique of neo-liberal inspired policies such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), privatisation of services and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) with specific reference to the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipalities in the Eastern Cape. The two selected municipalities were chosen because both of them are categorized as metropolitan. This will enable the research to make a comparison of the implementation of PPP, outsourcing of services and BBBEE at these metropoles. The article provides an analysis of both municipalities’ records such as policy documents. The central argument of this article is that the neo-liberal inspired policies of PPP and BBBEE that are being applied through Local Economic Development(LED) are not in the interests of the majority of people living in the Eastern Cape. The researchers argue that the local business and political elites through the BBBEE, PPPs and outsourcing of services are using their strong networks (associated political, social and capital resources) in their efforts for personal accumulation, rather than promoting development for the majority.
Participatory democracy in theory and practice : a case study of local government in South Africa
(AOSIS, 2015) Breakfast, Ntsikelelo; Mekoa, Itumeleng; Maphazi, Nondumiso
The idea of democracy is a curious oneand puzzling. There is reason for this;everyone talks about democracy no matter whether their views are on the left, centreor right of the political spectrum. Various politicians, regimes, whether in Africa, Europe or America claim to be democratic;yet what each says and does is usuallydifferent. Democracy as a practice is supposed to bestow rules, laws and decisions that are justifiable on democraticgrounds. Democracy also has evolved through social struggles. This article examines the practice of democracy withinthe context of local government in South Africa, and is an attempt to explore the concept of democracy without escaping other historical aspects of the idea and practice. From a methodological standpoint, this article is based on a literature assessment. Lastly and most importantly, this paper has made a scholarly contribution to the scholarship of Political Science and Public Administration with regard to the nexus between democracy and public participation at local government level in South Africa.
Political apathy amongst students : a case study of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
(AOSIS, 2017) Breakfast, Ntsikelelo B.; Bradshaw, Gavin; Haines, Richard
The primary motivation for this research, in which a qualitative method was employed, was to examine political apathy amongst students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The secondary motivation was to question whether youth political apathy threatens the consolidation of democracy. The researchers arranged four focus groups at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. A purposive sampling technique was utilised. All 50 participants in the study were Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University undergraduate and postgraduate black students, with ages ranging from 21 to 35 years. The researchers encouraged participants to have maximum participation in the focus group deliberations. The researchers also made use of elite interviews in the study. The findings of this study suggest that political apathy does exist amongst students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Most of the participants in the focus groups indicated that young people in post-apartheid South Africa have no interest in politics.
Sociology in practice : H W van der Merwe's contribution to conflict resolution and mediation in South Africa
(SUN MeDIA Bloemfontein, 2011) Liebenberg, Ian
Conflict, repression and resistance had an alienating effect on a micro- and macro-level in apartheid South Africa. This brings to mind Hendrik Willem van der Merwe as a person who united South Africa's enemies. This article explores auto-ethnographic insights in a discussion of his approach to mediation, involvement with the Centre for Intergroup Studies and his establishing of the South African Association for Conflict Intervention (SAACI). His approach differed from others at the time such as the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA). The value of his work is noted and further research advised. The article suggests that scholarly activism (or the activist scholar) is again needed to build peace and justice in the context of South Africa and our continent.
South Africa’s post-apartheid military : lost in transition and transformation
(Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Military Science (Military Academy), 2020-10) Bailie, Craig
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) recently celebrated, “25 Years of Defence in Democracy”[i]. Professor Lindy Heinecken’s latest book, South Africa’s post-apartheid military: Lost in transition and transformation, is therefore a timely work. Published 25 years after South Africa’s first democratic elections and the integration of the country’s disparate armed forces, Heinecken gives a well-researched, fair and comprehensive account of the critical issues that have characterised 25 years of defence in South Africa.
Teetering on Africa’s development trajectories - a search for an African alternative
(2018-06) Breakfast, N.; Mekoa, I.; Theletsane, I.
This article analyses the so-called key drivers of development in post-colonial Africa in the contexts of African leaders’ conceptualisation thereof. It exposes the divergent concepts of development that have appeared to uniformly retard Africa’s progress. The article acknowledges the myriad of institutional factors such as leadership, corruption and neo-patrimonialism that have contributed to post-colonial Africa’s development challenges. In pursued of its argument, the article’s approach is explorative and descriptive, thereby justifying the adoption of qualitative literature assessment methodology. Theoretically, the article holds a Pan-Africanist worldview wherefrom Africanism is central to all development. It is worth noting that not much scholarship has been done within the fields of Public Administration and Management on how modernisation as a theory has created a scope for elite accumulation in post-colonial states on the African continent. This article is an attempt to close the gap in scholarly discourse with regard to Africa’s development trajectories. Due to the multiplicity and complexities of Africa itself, there can be no universal monolithic description of Africanism; hence, the article recommends that post-colonial Africa’s development process should, starting with the determination of philosophical orientation, planning and policy decisions, embrace public participation.
Trans-Atlantic relations in the Southern Cone : a common security agenda
(Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Military Science (Military Academy), 1998) Khanyile, Moses B.
The countries on both shores of the South Atlantic Ocean have often looked more to the north for solutions to their socio-economic and security challenges than to their counterparts across the ocean. This approach has not only resulted in mutual neglect but has also exacerbated threat perceptions among neighbours. The establishment of the Mercusor (the Common Market of the South) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the Latin American and Southern African regions respectively, signals the awareness of the commonness of challenges and the need for regional solidarity. Through these sub-regional arrangements, inter-state tensions have been reduced drastically but intra-state conflicts still pose the greatest threat to regional stability. However, both regional organisations have 'inward-looking' agendas. Trans- Atlantic exchanges remain peripheral and minimal. Measured in terms of trade flows, for instance, between the two continents, Africa's total exports to and imports from Latin America in 1995 were slightly over two percent of Africa's overall trade. Similarly, Latin America's trade with Africa amounted to just one percent of her overall trade value.
Verdediging van die Kaap in 1795 : vir Kroon of Patria?
(Historical Association of South Africa, 2001) Potgieter, Thean
Defending the Cape in 1795: for king or country? The strategic location of the Cape of Good Hope on the southern tip of Africa made it a priced possession and vital for maritime communications to the East. With the growth of British global commercial interest control of the sea route to the East and a safe base along this route became essential. But, the Cape was in Dutch hands and in 1795 (after France invaded the Netherlands) Britain decided to prevent the Cape from falling into French hands. An expeditionary force sailed for the Cape and the Prince of Orange (then a refugee at Kew) supported the idea that the Cape be placed "under the protection" of the British. Local opinion at the Cape was severely divided. Some Orange supporters demanded immediate adherence to the Prince of Orange's request while supporters of the Patriot Party threatened to defend the Cape to the last. As the rulers of the Cape and many officers were Orange supporters and the burghers and soldiers were Patriot supporters, the Cape Military Commander Colonel Gordon, was in a difficult position. Should he defend the Cape or capitulate? Meanwhile, the British landed successfully in False Bay and because of the poor defence they forced the Dutch back. Many of the burghers and soldiers were furious with the weak defence, but when British reinforcements arrived, the military situation changed in favour of the British. the Cape capitulated.
Viewing 'the other' over a hundred and a score more years : South Africa and Russia (1890–2010)
(AOSIS, 2010-03-30) Liebenberg, I.
Whether novel is history or history is novel, is a tantalising point. “The novel is no longer a work, a thing to make las t, to connect the pas t with the future but (only) one current event among many, a ges ture with no tomorrow” Kundera (1988:19). One does not have to agree with Kundera to find that social sciences , as his toriography holds a s tory, a human narrative to be shared when focused on a case or cases. In this case, relations between peoples over more than a century are discussed. At the same time, what is known as broader casing in qualitative studies enters the picture. The relations between the governments and the peoples of South Africa and Russia ( including the Soviet Union), sometimes in conflict or peace and sometimes at variance are discussed. Past and present communalities and differences between two national entities within a changing international or global context deserve attention while moments of auto-ethnography compliment the study. References are made to the international political economy in the context of the relations between these countries.

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