Patrick Laurence argues that the pending election could lead to major political realignment.
Lawrence Schlemmer takes a close look at the factors that determine political loyalties in South Africa.
Aubrey Matshiqi assesses the importance of the forthcoming elections to Buthelezi's future.
Anton Harber fears that South African journalism is threatened by trivialisation and declining standards.
Prof Willie Breytenbach sees the upcoming election as a matter of life and death for the NNP.
Sarah Crowe ponders the implications of poverty amidst wealth in oil-rich Angola.
Aidan Hartley reflects on the prospects of Kenya cleansing itself of corruption under its new government.
Britt Youens contends that developments in local government foreshadow greater ANC dominance.
Lungile Madywabe detects inconsistency in the ANC's disciplinary procedures over the last ten years.
Consensual politics finds concrete expression in post-apartheid South Africa in the government of national unity that was prescribed in the interim constitution of 1993.