Tony Leon considers the first anniversary of South Africa’s coalition government, reflecting on the ANC’s political decline, the DA’s limited power in the partnership, and the challenges of restoring voter faith amid mounting dissatisfaction. On 11 June 2024, exactly one year ago, the DA presented its “framework agreement” for a coalition government to govern South Africa [...]
Tony Leon reflects on the ANC’s unwavering commitment to black economic empowerment (BEE) despite the stark contrast between its ideals and outcomes. Add two ANC faves, indigenisation and transformation, into a Shakespearean soliloquy and the result might be, “To BEE or not to BEE that is the question.” While Hamlet hemmed and hawed with deep-felt uncertainty [...]
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent encounter at the White House revealed that South Africans have all succumbed to “Trump derangement syndrome” in varying different degrees, writes Tony Leon. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa went to the White House on a “working visit” to meet the US president and nothing much happened. No one in the world, least [...]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3PA-MT8dCA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqRvKQGP9Xs
Tony Leon explores the unpredictable dynamics and potential outcomes of Wednesday’s high-stakes Oval Office meeting between Donald Trump and Cyril Ramaphosa, examining political tensions, personal chemistry, and the challenges both leaders bring to the table. The great question for Wednesday is which Donald J Trump will show up for his meeting with Cyril Ramaphosa? The second [...]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NoFl_pxo-Q&list=PL73Gj_So3oSVSq5C7dggvXLVYWcrue6kh
Tony Leon remembers Douglas Gibson, who died last Friday, as one of the great builders of our politics. Long-lived, controversial British politician Enoch Powell memorably said, “All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure, because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs.” Powell died [...]
Tony Leon on what he’s learnt The former leader of the DA launches the three-city book tour of his latest title this week: a collection of political war stories called Being There: Backstories from the political front. Interview by Dominique Herman “I HAD a brief career as a lawyer, I had a brief career as an [...]
