Books and Chapters
Empowering Civil Society in South Africa
For a Developmental Compact
South Africa needs a strong social compact to achieve its social, political and economic transformation objectives. This policy brief discusses the role and contribution of civil society in the (re)construction and successful conclusion of a broad-based social compact. This is based on desktop research and analysis of primary and secondary data which I conducted as lead researcher and writer.
How I Took Back My Power
In this experiential memoir, I explore the tension between personal agency, socialisation as well as societal, religious and familial expectations. I employ psychological and sociological insights, as well creative writing tools, to frame and unpack my personal experience of grappling with generational patterns and trauma and how these have shaped my world view, and thereby constrain the self. I demonstrate the complexity of battling through the burden of structural constrains such including abuse and trauma, to exercise my agency in the endeavour to self-actualise and find meaning and purpose, for my own benefit and of those around.
Electoral Systems and Accountability
Challenges and Considerations for South Africa
This research report is based on a seven country comparative study spanning three continents, seeking to answer the following question: Is there an electoral system that can guarantee meaningful accountability from governments and public representatives?​ It explores the caveats and implications of these findings from these countries for South Africa, in which I served as lead researcher and writer for this project and report.
The Democratic Opportunity
Does South Africa need electoral reform?
Published in 2014, this book reviews the democratic progress over the last 20 years. Weakening government capacity, corruption, poor service delivery and instability and violence in communities across the country have become hallmarks. If the problem is bad leaders, will changing the way we elect them make a difference? Nompumelelo Runji argues that in order to restore good governance and ensure accountability from the country’s leaders democratic institutions must be defended and respect for them promoted. This requires citizens that demand accountability and that critically evaluate the quality and performance of public officials.
Chapter
Whither the Social Compact: When politics of the stomach overshadows a vision for an ethical public service
Published in 2018, Seeking the Ethical Foundations of the South African Nation is the culmination of a project started by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) five years ago, that sought to reflect on the past 23 years of South Africa’s young democracy with a view to understanding the ethical issues and challenges facing various sectors of our society today, and the extent to which ethics and values underpin the Constitution and National Development Plan (NDP) for the realisation of our freedoms.
Chapter
Widening Access and Enabling Franchise
This is your Project description. Provide a brief summary to help visitors understand the context and background of your work. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start.
