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Future of South Africa's democracy

3 August 2011

Prof Steven Friedman (left), Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg with HE, Ms Ann Harrap,Australian High Commissioner to South Africa.
Prof Steven Friedman (left), Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg with HE, Ms Ann Harrap,Australian High Commissioner to South Africa.

The future of South Africa’s democracy is seemingly under siege amid threats to media freedom, calls for increased state intervention in the economy and threats to the Public Protector’s office.

Prof Steven Friedman, well-known newspaper columnist and highly respected political commentator presented an informed, balanced view on the state of South Africa’s democracy at a public lecture hosted by the Monash Africa Centre at the Monash South Africa campus in Ruimsig, Johannesburg on 28 July 2011.

Friedman said that: “In essence, democracy is a system, which rests on the accountability to the citizenry by those who govern. There is a direct relationship in our society between the extent to which government is effective and the degree to which it is democratic. The route to a government which serves citizens better is not greater technical or management capacity within government, but more democracy.”

“Contrary to the pessimism in many commentaries, the current reality is extremely fluid and there are strong pressures for greater democracy - but there are also many threats. While these threats are real, democracy has made significant gains in the recent past which may allow a deepening and broadening of democratic politics in the years ahead. The future is in the balance, and the pressures for and against democracy are likely to shape that future.”

The Monash Africa Centre is a joint initiative between the Vice-Chancellor of Monash University Australia, Prof Ed Byrne and the Pro Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash South Africa, Prof Tyrone Pretorius. It is located in the Research Portfolio at Monash South Africa.

“Through this lecture series we aim to provide a platform for academic discourse on issues of concern and relevance in Africa,” said Assoc Prof Dina Burger, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor: Research at Monash South Africa.

Monash University is recognised the world over for its excellence in research, teaching and community engagement and we want to use that experience to contribute to the potential of Africa. Other areas of the Centre’s focus include education, skills and capacity development, partnership building, consulting and hosting intellectuals and practitioners.

On 27 September 2011, the first in the Monash Africa Debate Series will focus on The State of the Nation on HIV Prevention on South Africa, hosted by Prof Geoffrey Setswe, Head of School of Health Sciences at Monash South Africa.

Summary of his presentation