On 15 November, the Democratic Alliance (DA) of South Africa launched a new campaign stating its ambitions to become a party that will only not only govern South Africa's towns and cities by 2011, but may soon join South Africa's government. DA leader and the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille unveiled a new logo and delivered a speech highlighting the changes in the party. “What we have unveiled here today is not just a new logo, a different look. This is not a marketing exercise. It's much, much more than that. It's our promise - a promise that we will deliver on the South African dream for the rainbow people. We signal here today a new approach - to South Africa, to the voters, to the future. There will be a new offer; a new style of campaigning; a new determination to address the injustices and transcend the racial divisions of our country's past.” In November 2009, the DA will host the 56th Congress of the Liberal International in Cape Town.

Theme: 'Commercializing Africa's Resources to Promote Prosperity: How Africa can utilize its natural resources to raise the living standards of its people?

Participants at the 6th ARB Meeting

The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) hosted a two day workshop on mineral exploitation in Africa. Some of the key issues discussed include: the capacity of Africa to exploit mineral/oil resources and utilize the revenue to raise the living standards of its people. Why resource rich states in Africa are forever in conflict; how different is the situation from the 19th century rush to Africa that saw millions of Africans maimed and killed? What is Africa doing about it? The meeting focused on surface and subsurface wealth exploitation, policy environment for resource exploitation in Africa, the African human resource and water.

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The Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) 2009 election campaign is based on a package of carefully costed and mutually reinforcing policies that give practical expression to our vision of an “open, opportunity society” for all. In the open, opportunity society, citizens are equipped with the tools they need to exercise their freedom, take advantage of their opportunities, and develop their full potential.

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Among the criticisms directed at Mosiuoa Lekota and his colleagues in the new Congress of the People is that before they broke away from the African National Congress (ANC) they supported some of the very ANC policies they now deplore.

The accusation is true, but beside the point.

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The South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) released the online version of the South Africa Survey for 2007/2008, a publication supported by the Foundation, the Survey was first published by the Institute in 1946/47. It remains the leading reference guide to all aspects of South African life from social and development trends to economics and politics.

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Mayor Helen Zille

Southern Africa should be proud of itself; a country within its midst has a mayor recognised worldwide and locally for their relentless effort and “long-lasting contributions to their communities” and commitment “to the well-being of cities nationally and internationally” as commented by the World mayor prize Project think tank. South Africa’s Hellen Zille, Leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA; South Africa’s main opposition party) was awarded the 2008 World Mayor Prize out of fifty finalists.

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The South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) with collaboration from the Foundation and the Weekender organized a briefing on the state of the South African Judiciary. The guest speaker was Judge Carole Lewis of the Supreme Court of Appeal who spoke candidly about state of the judiciary and highlighted several areas of concern. The full text of her briefing appears below.

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