Fort Hare Autumn School in CHINTSA

The second Fort Hare Autumn School (FHAS) module provided the necessary knowledge about key institutions and actors in South Africa’s political system to identify fault-lines, extrapolate checks and balances and comprehend the complexity of modern policy-making.

To address these issues, it is vital to have a clear understanding of how the entity of a ‘modern state’ is defined and which structures determine it. Thus, the structures of the South African political system form the core of the second module. Key guiding questions of the Fort Hare Autumn School are: what is the role of the state in implementing principles like freedom and justice in the face of current socio-political realities, and how can the tension between self-interest and solidarity be resolved in today’s societies? There is still a considerable way to go to achieve South Africa’s vision of a non-racial, non-sexist, free, equal and prosperous society.

Although elections are the primary method through which representation and the objective of popular participation in democracy are established, the act of casting a vote is not the only or the best way to participate and exert influence in a political system. Therefore, the module will unpack the varying forms of participation in democracy as well as the important role of civil society.

One essential element of the second module is to learn how government works. That includes the basic differentiation between Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.

Central to the South African polity is without question its Constitution. Hailed worldwide as one of the most progressive constitutions, it has its own history and peculiarities. The South African constitution is the basis and the guideline for policy-making. A clear understanding of the principles which guide it and which role the related Constitutional Court plays in modern South Africa is vital for assessing current affairs of the country.

Presenters

• Deputy Minister John Jeffery, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, South Africa
• Ms Renate Tenbusch, Resident Director, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
• Dr Nomalanga Mkhize, Lecturer, History Department, Rhodes University
• Mr David Maimela, Researcher, Political Economy Faculty, Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (Mistra)
• Mr Ebrahim Ebrahim, Parliamentary Counsellor, The Presidency, South Africa
• Mr Imraan Buccus, Academic Researcher, Writer and Consultant, University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Ms Phindile Kunene, Curriculum Developer/Educator, Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education