Journal 1

On History and Mythmaking in South Africa

Olga Bialostocka — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In responding to Ng˜ug˜ı wa Thiong’o’s decolonial call for ‘a quest for relevance’, this essay deals with the issue of removal of colonial and apartheid-era monuments in South Africa as a way of creating a ‘liberating perspective’ and shaping a new national identity of the country. With a view to throwing light on the value and functionality of past vestiges, the paper engages with the definition of ‘heritage’ and its meaning for present-day communities. By examining the process of the selection of historical material and ways of assigning meaning to the relics of the past in heritage practice, it raises the question of power in historical knowledge production. By interrogating the concept of the truth of historical narratives, it discusses the plurality of interpretations of the past to stress the need for an ‘ecumenical heritage’ that would be relevant to the realities and self-image of South Africans today.

Afrikaans must Fall and English must Rise

Bevelyn Dube — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The 2015/2016 student protests at former Afrikaans-medium universities in South Africa challenged, among other matters, the status of Afrikaans as a language of teaching and learning at South African universities. Inspired by the #RhodesMustFall protest movement, which called for the decolonisation of curricula at tertiary institutions in the country, movements, such as Open Stellenbosch and similar movements at Pretoria, Free State and North West universities, demanded that Afrikaans be replaced by English to allow more access for the formerly marginalised population groups in South Africa. Since neither Afrikaans nor English is the first language of most South African university students, and since both languages were largely imposed on black Africans through acts of colonial and apartheid violence, it would be interesting to explore the ambivalence inherent in the students’ choice of English over Afrikaans. The contradictions or ambiguities inherent in the language protests are explored through Ng˜ug˜ı’s thesis of decolonising the mind and Bourdieu’s concepts of the ‘linguistic habitus’ and ‘linguistic market’.

International Instruments Affecting People with a Disability in South Africa

Sareesha Pillay, Derek Taylor, Avinash Govindjee — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

While the democratisation of South Africa incorporated political change, a concurrent requirement was placed on the government-of-the-day to develop a transformed normative framework. The necessity for a normative framework continues to be an essential platform for the practice of democratic governance in South Africa. Emphasis remains on the promotion of the democratic rights of persons with disabilities within a global context. In light of the ‘new’ dispensation, the challenges faced by persons with disabilities have come under the spotlight. International instruments relevant to persons with disabilities have served as
a compass for the South African government. The international framework pertinent to persons with disabilities has provided a normative basis for the fair treatment and promotion of equal rights for such persons in the South African context. Questions have been raised regarding the viability of these international instruments in providing an effective normative framework for enhanced democratic governance and positive representation of the rights of persons with disabilities.

Thomas Sankara’s Revolutionary Leadership

Moorosi Leshoele — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The notion of a lack of ethical leadership, or what I would term a leadership curse in Africa has received much attention in the last few decades in post-colonial Africa. However, we seldom hear of great African thought leaders such as Thomas Isadore Sankara. This paper, therefore, seeks to critique and analyse what Ren` Otayek terms ‘the Sankara phenomenon’ that can help us better understand what virtues and traits are required for ethical leadership in Africa. Despite Sankara’s considerable achievements in Burkina Faso, his effective leadership style and skills remain under-acknowledged. In martyrdom, Sankara continues to be a source of inspiration, especially for African youth on the continent and abroad. Despite the affection and adoration for Sankara, he is one of the great African leaders who has not been sufficiently recognised, considering the impact he had on the lives of the ordinary working-class people of Burkina Faso.

Exploring Pathways to Private Sector Investment in Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in Africa

Admire Mutsa Nyamwanza, Sandra Bhatasara — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The objective of this paper is to explore ways in which African governments can engage the private sector to successfully create conditions and incentives for accelerated private sector investment in climate change adaptation and resilience activities in their countries. The paper is based on a critical review of both grey and published literature, with arguments being supported by cases of experiences in different African countries. The paper finds that while there are clear opportunities for private sector involvement in climate change adaptation and resilience efforts in Africa, there are also several critical financial and non-financial barriers that have to be dealt with, to ensure that private sector players successfully tap into the available opportunities. The paper recommends the setting up of coherent and coordinated policy and regulatory frameworks towards creating a conducive environment for private sector investment in climate change adaptation and resilience activities in Africa.