Apartheid ear abuses are a political issue. Steven Friedman, 'Science' and 'knowledge': the HIV/AIDS debate. Leslie Dikeni, A voice for the jobless. Malachia Mathoho, The perils of abstract planning. Kenny Hlela

Diminution of civilian oversight. Paul Thulare, Crossing the floor will cross party bosses. Thabo Rapoo
The district health system: dying for a decision. Fiona White, Provincial tourism strategy lacks proper support. Gardner Khumalo

Voters vote for people and parties. Thabo Rapoo, KZN: winner doesn't have to take all. Kenny Hlela and Thabo Rapoo, Even democracy is not perfect. Kenny Hlela, Representatives are more than voters' mouthpieces. Thabo Rapoo

Mbeki 'plot' raises issues of legitimate succession. Dumisani Hlophe, If parliament can't do it, society can. Mcebisi Ndletyana, Top-down development recipes risk rejection. Kenny Hlela, Privatisation: beyond the slogans lies a confused strategy. Thami Ngqungwana, Are women in parliament doing more than making up the numbers? Darryl Gershater

OBE scuppered by 'pure thought' and political agendas. Caroline Kihato, The Justice Sector: From labyrinth to ladder. Louise Stack, Community-Based Public Works: Lessons from the RDP's failure. Tobias Schmitz and Caroline Kihato, Land grabs in Zimbabwe: A settler on the landing? Tobias Schmitz and Dumisani Hlophe

'Technocratic creep' threatens local government reform. Patrick Heller, Draft immigration bill retains control framework. Maxine Reitzes, Society must be brought on board to combat AIDS. Steven Friedman, 'The land never bought, the land never sold...'. Tobias Schmitz, Document on traditional leaders brakes social evolution. Mcebisi Ndletyana

Gap between intention and reality under the spotlight. Thabo Rapoo, Why GEAR is not delivering growth and jobs. Xolela Mangcu, Failure of RDP office hold important governance lessons. Claude Kabemba
Decentralisation is not the cure-all its planners imagine. Caroline Kihato, Unused clinics testify to lack of co-ordination. Mcebisi Ndletyana, Mission accomplished - or admission of failure? Zondi Masiza, Why the justice implementation gap is the largest of all. Libhongo Ntlonkonkulu, Easier to drink than drive. Tobias Schmitz

Conflict, co-operation between ANC and SANCO hold important lessons for local democracy. Patrick Heller, Parties vocal on some issues, silent on others. Caroline Kihato, Demands for 'separate but equal' institutions lead back to the constitution. Caroline Kihato and Thabo Rapoo, Government's new wage policy must be thoroughly negotiated. Shaun Mackay

Election turnout remains cause for concern.Shaun Mackay, Long-term trends are a better guide to voter support. Louise Stack, UDM may not live up to its supporters' expectations. Mcebisi Ndletyana, How the ANC's top 50 has changed. Louise Stack, SA should learn from electoral experiences elsewhere. Chris Landsberg

ANC's political dominance may not last forever. Xolela Mangcu, The new face of South Africa's legislatures. Louise Stack, Results are a setback for 'countervailing power'. Steven Friedman, Shrunken NNP faces unenviable array of choices. Louise Stack & Shaun Mackay, Is the UDM a government in waiting?. Mcebisi Ndletyana

Row over hawkers reveals local government's weak link. Caroline Kihato, Too much is expected of complex new intergovernmental system. Thabo Rapoo, Regional labour migration regime is urgently needed. Maxine Reitzes
Foreign policy ideals swamped by regional realpolitik. Claude Kabemba, 'Integrated resource management' still mostly rhetoric. Tobias Schmitz, Government-business relations need to improve. Shaun Mackay and Khehla Shubane

'Unfunded mandates' threaten to undermine provincial and local government. Steven Friedman, Emerging building contractors are disadvantaged by schemes designed to empower them. Caroline Kihato, Gauteng's planning blueprint is long on ideals, short on reality. Gardner Khumalo, Thabo Rapoo, Changing the constitution to fight crime will weaken democracy just as surely as the criminals will. Ros Atkins, Bashing immigrants won't help to prevent crime. Paul Thulare

ANC could gain two-thirds majority in next year's poll. Louise Stack., Without electricity, micro traders are trapped in a vicious cycle. Tebogo Mafokoane, Accepting foreign migrants will create new governance challenges. Maxine Reitzes, Legitimacy alone is not enough to ensure compliance. Caroline Kihato

More power must be placed in the hands of South Africa's voters. Shaun Mackay, The implementation gap may be caused by a lack of policy skills.Steven Friedman, What South Africa needs to do to stimulate industrial growth. Vibha Pingle, Government is partly to blame for Msakhane's failure. Caroline Kihato

Just how useful are those intergovernmental forums?, … and yet another intergovernmental body, Struggle looming over funds for provinces, Fast-track development act rides roughshod over local councils, Illegal electricity connections: local partnerships mooted

Hastily constituted rural councils may give democracy a bad name. Graeme Götz, Tribal chiefs should be trained in modern dispute resolution. Khehla Shubane and Louise Stack, Authorities need to rethink their stance on land invasions. Caroline Kihato ,East Rand shows why 'regional development' may rob local democracy of its meaning. Ivor Chipkin, Use of private consultants should help to upgrade skills in civil service. Richard Humphries

Service delivery in Nairobi holds cold comfort for the poor. Caroline Kihato, Punitive approach alone will not resolve electricity payment problems. Helen Meintjes, How far can local mediation efforts go? Ivor Chipkin, Gauteng shapes up for key role in co-operative governance. Richard Humphries, Politicised RDP committees are a hindrance rather than a help. Paul Thulare