Terence Corrigan
Terence Corrigan is the Project and Publications Manager at the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), where he is in overall charge of bespoke work, and long-form publications. A native of KwaZulu-Natal, he holds a BA (Hons) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg), and an MPhil from the University of Free State. He has held various positions at the IRR, South African Institute of International Affairs, SBP (formerly the Small Business Project) and the Gauteng Legislature – as well as having taught English in Taiwan. He is a regular commentator in the South African media and his interests include African governance, land and agrarian issues, political culture and political thought, corporate governance, economic growth and business policy. Corrigan is a connoisseur of films, an amateur historian and a lover of the German language.
Articles By This Author
The “Constitutional Coup” – less violent, equally damaging
Nearly a decade ago, in 2017, Africa in Fact ran a piece entitled “Africa’s presidents and the term-limit controversy”. It described a strategy that incumbent leaders were using to cling to office beyond the limits imposed on them by their respective constitutions. As it typically emerged from a constitutional change designed to give a sitting head of something in excess of a specified two terms, it was given the shorthand moniker of “third termism”. “Constitutional amendments or wholesale constitutional changes to alter term limits have provided avenues to stay in office,” the article commented, “The rules are being changed, though not (technically) violated.”
Is there a future for local government?
It’s a measure of the state of South Africa’s municipal sphere that Treasury has cut off equitable share funding transfers from the fiscus to 69 municipalities in the run up to an election. It says even more that those targeted are not only desolate, out-of-the way dorpies, but sizeable urban centres, including Johannesburg, the now much tarnished City of Gold.
Meyer will not stop the refugee programme – and he shouldn’t bother to try
It’s rare that a South African diplomatic appointment attracts any public notice, and even more so for an appointee to be invited onto a radio talk show to discuss the objectives of his posting. But Roelf Meyer’s appointment as ambassador to the United States is hardly an ordinary one, and what he had to say has garnered an uncharacteristic amount of attention.
GEM Bill provides template for thriving mining industry
It’s impossible to understand South Africa without reference to the trove of mineral wealth beneath its soil and the industry that grew up to extract it. The very borders of the country are in large part the outcome of conflict intimately bound up with resources in its soil.
Thuli Madonsela illustrates my point. Unfortunately
Last week, I wrote a letter to Business Day drawing attention to two themes prevalent in the news. The first was xenophobia, associated with the 30 June protests and the fear that had gripped migrants living in the country. The second was the Islamophobic responses in some quarters to the appointment of Yusuf Cassim as deputy minister of higher education.
Yes, voter hubris is the problem. And it should be
“So… it’s voter hubris that is the problem? Not that the DA has chosen their most unlikeable candidate for the job?” I came across this grumpy little gem on Facebook a while ago.
June 30 is not just about xenophobia
Tomorrow, 30 June, has been set by anti-migration groups as the deadline for all foreign nationals unlawfully in the country to depart. There is a dreadful repetitiveness about this. Xenophobia may not be a universal sentiment, but it is sufficiently widespread to occupy a strategic position in South Africa’s politics, and to animate large numbers of its people. The presence of migrants has long been source of discontent, and a vent for society’s vengeful impulses.
“Opportunities” for SA’s youth, in 1976 and in 2026
I began writing this last Tuesday, 16 June, nominally “Youth Day”, but in South Africa’s political lexicon, the commemoration of the 1976 Soweto students’ uprising.
Liberalism: in search of an idea – Part 3
The 20th century saw the emergence of what has been termed New Liberalism. This was essentially a shift from focusing on removing the constraints on people to proactively assisting them. It sought to ameliorate social problems and to provide society’s less affluent with the means for their upliftment and effective participation in society.
Liberalism: in search of an idea – Part 2
As a driver of political action, liberalism manifested itself initially in demands for expanding liberties and constitutional governance, although not necessarily (indeed, not generally among liberals of the early 19th century) for comprehensive democratisation.