South Africa
Explore our coverage of South Africa’s politics, economics, business and culture, in articles, charts, podcasts and video
The World Ahead
Will the BRICS challenge America in 2024?
The economic bloc wants to compete with America for dominance
Africa in 2024
South Africa faces a defining election
Thirty years after the end of white rule, democracy itself is struggling
Middle East and Africa
The battle over South Africa’s spicy-chicken market
A fight between Pedros and Nando’s offers insights into concentrated markets
Middle East and Africa
How the red beret became Africa’s most political hat
From Uganda to South Africa, it conjures the spirit of revolution
Obituary
Mangosuthu Buthelezi had his own vision for a democratic South Africa
The Zulu chief, a rival to Nelson Mandela, died on September 9th, aged 95
The Economist reads
What to read (and listen to) about South Africa
Seven books and an audio series that explain the rainbow nation and why it lost its lustre
Middle East and Africa
Business leaders fear that South Africa risks becoming a failed state
CEOs have realised that running the country cannot be left to the ANC
Middle East and Africa
America accuses South Africa of sending arms to Russia
The alleged transfer has pushed relations between South Africa and America to a new low
Leaders
South Africa’s diplomatic descent
Cosying up to Russia and China harms South Africa, and the world
Middle East and Africa
Why South Africa is drifting into the Sino-Russian orbit
The ANC elite is full of Russian sympathisers
Middle East and Africa
South Africa’s blackouts hurt the economy in unexpected ways
While politicians behave like headless chickens, there are fewer of the real sort
Middle East and Africa
A white, gay, Zulu-speaking mayor is shaking up South African politics
Chris Pappas is an unlikely but effective trailblazer
Leaders
South Africa’s collapsing railway company is a cautionary tale
A “developmental state” is less useful than keeping the lights on and trains running
Middle East and Africa
South Africa’s disintegrating freight railway is crippling firms
If exporters cannot move their goods, the economy will stumble