Since 1994, South Africa has had five presidents who have varied greatly in style and character, despite all belonging to the same political party. How do they compare? How did they handle the crises they faced? What impact did they have on the country?

As the ANC’s next elective conference approaches and Cyril Ramaphosa seeks a second term as president, South Africa is reeling from the effects of state capture and the Covid-19 pandemic. Coupled with an ailing economy and record unemployment, the need for good political leadership to steer us through the morass is more urgent than ever.

It is, therefore, a perfect time to think critically about the role that presidential leadership plays in our lives and in history. To this end, The Presidents provides an honest assessment of the five post-apartheid presidents – Mandela, Mbeki, Motlanthe, Zuma and Ramaphosa – examining their strongest qualities and greatest weaknesses in the context of the momentous challenges they faced.

Written with insight and rigour, and drawing from interviews with political insiders who are close to events, The Presidents shines sharp new light on the leaders who have been entrusted with South Africa’s future.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Richard Calland is a constitutional lawyer and political analyst. During a fifteen-year career at IDASA, he founded a number of organisations, including the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC). He is an associate professor in public law at the University of Cape Town and a co-founding partner of political risk advisory The Paternoster Group. Earlier publications include Thabo Mbeki’s World, Anatomy of South Africa, The Zuma Years and Make or Break.

Mabel Sithole is an activist, artist and leadership development strategist. She is the Building Bridges programme manager at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town, and has over thirteen years’ experience working in human rights, public policy and development in Africa. She is also an established musician (Mae Sithole) and was named one of Cape Town’s Top 5 innovative female musicians by Of Africa magazine.

The Presidents: From Mandela to Ramaphosa, Leadership in the Age of Crisis is published by Penguin Random House South Africa