Lockdown – relaxation and litigation

George Devenish|Published

The lockdown, the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) and the subsequent regulations for the lockdown are most certainly going to precipitate litigation ...

Respect for the independence and integrity of the judiciary

George Devenish|Published

It has been reported in the media (African News Agency, 29/11/2019) that the Minister of Transport Fikele Mbalula crossed swords in no uncertain terms ...

The role of parliament and political parties in a time of crisis

George Devenish|Published

The newly elected interim leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), John Steenhuisen, recently ...

The political challenge facing us as a nation

George Devenish|Published

Although South Africa is a country of infinite potential, as a nation we are in a serious state of chronic political and economic crisis. This is unfortunately being ...

A note to President Ramaphosa

George Devenish|Published

Like millions of other South African not only in your own party, but from other enlightened parties and political persuasions I pen this open letter to you. We believe ...

FW De Klerk – A holistic approach

George Devenish|Published

I refer to Mikhael Petersen’s op-ed on 7 June ‘Why does history judge FW de Klerk so lightly?’ In this piece Petersen refers to certain isolated comments attributed ...

Reform of the public service in South Africa

George Devenish|Published

In mature democratic states, like those of Western Europe and North America, the members of the public administration serve the interest of the people and the country ...

Academic freedom in contemporary South Africa

George Devenish|Published

Section 16 of the Constitution which addresses freedom of expression declares that everyone has this right which, inter alia, includes:…academic freedom and freedom ...

Press and media freedom

George Devenish|Published

Section 16 explicitly mentions that freedom of expression includes ‘freedom of the press and other media’. Press freedom is an essential for freedom of expression ...

Is there a conflict between cabinet confidentiality and executive accountability?

George Devenish|Published

In a very important constitutional matter argued in the Constitutional Court on Thursday last week the apex Court in South Africa reserved judgement. The matter ...

Reflections on SONA 2019

George Devenish|Published

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered an impressive and courageous State of Nation Address last Thursday. It was manifestly clear he was speaking as the President ...

A demarche-diplomatic spat with five western states

George Devenish|Published

The term demarche has its origin in French, the literal meaning of which is ‘step’ or ‘solicitation’ and has come to refer to, inter alia, a formal diplomatic representation ...

The Zimbabwean debacle is a challenge to South Africa

George Devenish|Published

It has been reported in the media (The Star 24 January 2019) that ‘South Africa to do what it can to help Zim neighbours’. In the same newspaper it is reported that ...

The independent electoral commission: free and fair elections

George Devenish|Published

South Africa is in election mode in the run up to the general election in May this year, which is likely to be highly contested. The leader of the ruling ANC and ...

2019: A year of intense fascination for South African politics

George Devenish|Published

There can be no doubt that 2019 will be a watershed year for the future of South Africa. The year 2018 ushered in the Ramaphosa administration with the promise of ...

The process of national reconciliation in SA

George Devenish|Published

As nation we have commemorated the 16 December as Reconciliation day. From about 1986 when Nelson Mandela was in Pollsmoor prison he began a process of reconciliation ...

‘State must act against Malema’

George Devenish|Published

Malema?s fascist tactics at the state capture enquiry are undermining the rule of law in South Africa, says the writer.

The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture and the conduct of the EFF

George Devenish|Published

Commissions of Inquiry take place in terms of the Commissions Act 8 of 1947. Although it is a short piece of legislation it is an important one and it has been extensively ...

Land issue bringing democracy under scrutiny

George Devenish|Published

Constitution places national and provincial legislatures under obligation to facilitate public involvement in their legislative and other processes.

Participatory democracy in South Africa

George Devenish|Published

Democracy has its genesis in the ancient Athens in late 5th century BCE, where for the first time direct democracy was conceived and practised by allowing all male ...

The Parliament of South Africa

George Devenish|Published

Although our Constitution of 1996 makes a fundamental break with the concept and practice of parliamentary sovereignty, which is one of the definitive characteristics ...

ANC factions face a future parting of ways

George Devenish|Published

The factions associated with Ramaphosa and Zuma are probably incompatible and at some time in the future there must be a parting of the ways.

What is the status of non-racialism in South Africa today?

George Devenish|Published

The supreme South African Constitution makes the status of non-racialism categorically clear by declaring in section 1, dealing with the fundamental values on which ...

Professional integrity in the public service and the private sector

George Devenish|Published

Professionalism of any kind involves, inter alia, the twin concepts of competence and integrity. These two concepts and their requirements are examined below in ...

The legitimacy of the Constitution of 1996

George Devenish|Published

In the run up to the general election of 2019 and in the discourse and discussions relating to the controversial issue of expropriation of land without compensation ...