By Melika Singh For those unfamiliar with 21st century socialism — which is not communism or pure socialism — below is an explanation of this concept and its importance to the developing world. Heinz Dieterich said 21st century socialism encompasses participative democracy (yes, socialism supports democracy and doesn’t require large-scale repression to succeed), a democratically-planned […]
Mandela Rhodes Scholars
Mandela Rhodes Scholars who feature on this page are all recipients of The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, awarded by The Mandela Rhodes Foundation, and are members of The Mandela Rhodes Community.
The Mandela Rhodes Community was started by recipients of the scholarship, and is a growing network of young African leaders in different sectors. The Mandela Rhodes Community is comprised of students and professionals from various backgrounds, fields of study and areas of interest. Their commonality is the set of guiding principles instilled through The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship program: education, leadership, reconciliation, and social entrepreneurship.
All members of The Mandela Rhodes Community have displayed some form of involvement in each of these domains.
The Community has the purpose of mobilising its members and partners to collaborate in establishing a growing network of engaged and active leaders through dialogue and project support
[The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship is open to all African students and allows for postgraduate studies at any institution in South Africa. See The Mandela Rhodes Foundation for further details.]
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The only way forward: 21st century socialism
By Melika Singh What kind of society is this? What kind of society impoverishes and alienates a majority, and enriches a minority? What kind of society promotes survival of the fittest before empathy and humanitarianism? What kind of society is this which excludes the majority from education — a vital human need? What kind of […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The de-commodification of energy?
Submitted Anton I. Botha If Cope, or even Obama, is serious about radical change (as promised) and thereby improving the lives of all people, they should not have to look beyond the reform of our current energy supply paradigm. One could go so far as to ask “why don’t both of them offer the people […]
Posted inNews/Politics
A South African in America: what the Obama victory means for us all
Judy Sikuza Four days later, my heart is still pounding! Hands shaking, butterflies in the stomach — an unfathomable feeling of awe! How can the election of a president in a country of which I am not a citizen have such an indescribable effect on me? The voice inside of me abruptly responds: “How can […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Would an ANC by any other name smell as sweet?
Two scholars reflect on the implications of Lekota and Shilowa’s ANC breakaway party for South African political leadership … “Thank heavens for Shikota” The South African political situation has never truly been ideal; for the most part it has always seemed that the average South African has had a choice been the devil and the […]
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The seeming irrelevance of crusty old poets
Submitted by Lionel Faull Sitting here in my ivory tower, the toiling masses only barely distinguishable several hundred feet below, I open a slightly scuffed copy of The Complete Poetry of Robert Herrick. Aaah, this is the life, I murmur contentedly to myself, as I raise both my legs from the plushly carpeted floor and […]
Posted inNews/Politics
After Mbeki: is ‘unity’ and ‘stability’ enough to meet South Africa’s challenges?
Submitted by Tristan Gorgens Listening to the various reactions to Mbeki’s resignation on Sunday I was struck by a the reaction by Archbishop Emeritus Tutu, one of the few ethical, non-aligned leaders left in our country, in which he said, “I can’t myself imagine that a party itself would say its unity is far more […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Interesting times indeed … the CMRS on Mbeki and leadership
The Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars is committed to four core principles: leadership, entrepreneurship, reconciliation and education. The principle of leadership requires all scholars to commit themselves to ethical leadership; leadership that places the interests of society ahead of the interests of individuals, factions or groups. In attempting to propagate its principles, the Community as […]
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A crisis of opportunity: The state of education in SA
Submitted by Rachel Adams To be excluded from the opportunities that one’s society has to offer is possibly one of the most disenfranchising experiences that one can endure. But to be promised opportunity and then never see that promise come to fruition must ultimately arouse a restlessness and hopelessness that is no doubt destructive for […]
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What is reconciliation? Animal, mineral or vegetable?
Submitted by Anton I Botha I thought I knew — after all, I live in a country that practically defined the term. Like many, I believed that South Africa showed the rest of the world what “true” reconciliation was, and that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, was a model […]
Posted inNews/Politics
… the hope for leadership today …
Submitted by Cynthia Ayeza Mutabaazi Who decides what is potential leadership for the continent and in what context does one then choose a leader for people? I realise that we are living in a time when the potential for leadership on this continent is great. In fact every living person has the potential to lead […]
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The revolution must come full circle
Submitted by Garikai Nyaruwata revolution noun [C] a deep-seated change in method of thinking often designed to effect fundamental changes in the political and socioeconomic situation. Earlier this year the University of Cape Town ANC Youth League distributed a number of posters on campus containing a treatise in commemoration of Chris Hani. A substantive portion […]