With only a few weeks to kick-off, South Africa’s readiness for the 2010 Fifa World Cup is evident, and tickets have been snapped up by South Africans – enthusiastic football fans and those simply caught up in the excitement. Notwithstanding the satisfaction that the “Afro-pessimists” have been proven wrong, South Africa’s successful bid for the 2010 Fifa World Cup triggered heated debates. The collection of articles gathered here presents some of these discussions.
South Africa officially entered recession in May 2009, its first in 17 years. As the global economic crisis has hit key drivers of growth South Africa’s economy has been expected to shrink by 2% in 2009. This issue of Perspectives discusses the implications of the global economic crisis for South Africa, and analyses the government’s responses in relation to social justice, gender equity and sustainable development principles.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen between 7 and 18 December will be extremely critical in determining the global actions to curb climate change in the future. This issue of Perspectives covers some of the key issues and implications of the negotiations as they are viewed from (Southern) Africa.
It seems inevitable that 2008 will prove itself to be a definitive year for South Africa’s young democracy. Exactly what kind of future trajectory it will deliver is to be seen – the current state of the nation is that of flux.
