In 1994, South Africa left almost half a century of apartheid behind, and, with the historic election of Nelson Mandela, joined the democracies of the world. 30 years later, the country faces growing inequality and corruption. In 2017, the 8 wealthiest South African owned more than the poorest half of the population, according to the organization Oxfam.
To understand the country’s systematic corruption and how this affects democracy, you have to go further back than 1994, according to Hennie van Vuuren. He is the founder of the South African organization Open Secrets, investigators of economic crimes and human rights violations. In his book Apartheid, Guns & Money, he reveals how the corrupt networks of apartheid were never confronted, but that they rather have been allowed to live on in the rainbow nation.
In this lecture, van Vuuren will provide an overview of threats both old and new to South African democracy.
The lecture will be in English.
Read more about van Vuuren's organization Open Secrets here.
The event is supported by NORAD.
