JP Landman
Political & Trend Analyst
Social Capital
Covid-19 Vaccine Supply
2021-01-21 777 views audio available
A proverbial storm has developed around South Africa's procurement, or the perceived lack thereof, of Covid-19 vaccines. People are understandably anxious and have many questions. I therefore compiled this note from publicly available information, and trust readers find it useful.
The Nkandla judgement
2016-03-31 250 views
In a well-reasoned judgement, written by Chief Justice Mogoeng and concurred to by all ten other judges, the Constitutional Court today ruled, amongst several rulings, that the President acted inconsistently with his duties under the Constitution when he did not comply with the Public Protector’s finding to pay for the reasonable costs of non-security related improvements to his homestead at Nkandla. These improvements refer to the infamous “fire pool”, amphitheatre, visitors’ centre, cattle kraal and chicken run.
Strange bedfellows
2014-02-25 607 views
It is a relief to be back in Johannesburg’s summer after the freezing temperatures that we endured the last month or so in Washington. So what have I learnt during the 4 months in Washington? Growth and social capital stand out.
Preview of the local government elections
2011-05-12 418 views
"Every voter has two votes next Wednesday - one for a ward councillor, where one chooses between individuals, and one on a proportional list where one casts a vote for a political party."
Bigger Ambition
2011-04-28 485 views
"In the space of one recent week, I experienced the most remarkable coincidence of inputs"
Manuel and Manyi -drawing the line
2011-03-14 888 views
Without doubt this is the biggest political story of the year so far. At its heart is where non-racism starts.
One step forward ...two steps forward
2011-02-10 378 views
"I have been following the annual release of the Development Indicators, a set of 80 measurements covering 10 areas of our national life, since its introduction in 2008."
SA a failing state? .... Hmmm. No.
2010-12-12 543 views
"Several BoE clients have asked for a comment on suggestions that SA is a failing state. I am reluctant, for what is a failed state? Definitions vary with some even saying the term ôhas no coherent definitionö. How to judge then?"
Press freedom in SA
2010-08-10 341 views
Parliament is hearing evidence on a Bill on the protection of information. An ANC discussion paper on a media tribunal is circulating. The combined effect is a fiery debate about press freedom in SA.
Re-visiting the Ladder of Development
2010-07-13 306 views
"In May 2004, when FIFA appointed SA the host of the 2010 Soccer Cup, and again in November 2006 in a road show to BoE clients, we evaluated SA`s hosting of the World Cup with reference to the ôLadder of Developmentö set out by the Japanese strategist Kenic"
March to modernity - flaws and all
2010-06-08 348 views
"What would you think of a country that has amassed forex reserves of more than $400 billion and rising? In a world of deficits and too much debt, it is certainly a nice bank balance to have."
How the nation is shaping up
2009-10-20 272 views
"Starting 3 years ago, the Presidency annually releases a set of development indicators measuring how SA is shaping up. 76 indicators, grouped around ten areas of our national life, are measured and compared over time."
Three tasks
2009-06-09 237 views
What do the House of Lords and Old Mutual have in common? And how does that commonality influence investors?
What they have in common
2008-10-31 404 views
"What do ANC youth leader Julius Malema, Wall Street bankers and South Africa`s Constitutional Court judges have in common?"
Development takes time
2008-10-09 268 views
"In 2007 in the run-up to the ANC conference at Polokwane a gogo got to her feet at an overwhelmingly pro-Thabo Mbeki meeting, and proposed Jacob Zuma as the presidential candidate."
Social Capital
2008-07-17 309 views
"Thesis on social capital submitted for a M Phil in Futurestudies at the University of Stellenbosch, 2003.."
The discovery of diamonds, Judge Hlope and “kill for Zuma”
2008-07-07 362 views
What do the above have in common? The link between them lies in social capital. We can trace the link back over 140 years.
Is the bad mood justified?
2008-04-09 336 views
The mood in the country, certainly amongst White people, is quite depressed. An annual opinion poll on how optimistic South Africans are, found that in February 2008 60% of South Africans felt positive...
Social Capital
2007-06-19 534 views
In November the Economist published a ranking of democracies in the world. The ranking had 4 categories....