Who Rules South Africa? Pulling the strings in the battle for power

by Martin Plaut, Paul Hold

In this timely work, WHO RULES SOUTH AFRICA?, highly regarded authors Paul Holden and Martin Plaut analyse the political elites that battle daily for power in South Africa. They argue that power does not reside in traditional institutions such as Parliament or even the Cabinet. Rather, power lies within the ANC-led Alliance which, with no founding document and no written constitution, is an unstructured and mutable political hydra with business and criminal elements in close attendance. It is the interaction between these forces which is the real story behind post-apartheid South Africa. In a country where poverty is rampant and institutions are weak, the battle for power is set to intensify. The authors unravel the mystery of how the rainbow nation has reached such a pass. What are the origins of the Alliance, and will it survive the current power struggles? Who are the shadowy forces that operate within or alongside the Alliance? Most importantly, they seek to answer the burning question of whether South Africa is destined to become another African tragedy, or whether there is still the promise of growth and a stable democracy.

Genres: Politics, South Africa, Nonfiction

420 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Cathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this difficult to read, as it was profoundly depressing. While corruption has been a problem in the world since man first felt his power, it is terrifying to think we life in a country where it is so blatant. An ostrich approach is no loner satisfactory.

[Fela · Rating 2 out of 5]

If your an avid newspaper reader, most of the stuff seems recycled, otherwise its informative.