There seems to be a breakdown in communication between local government and its people. The former seems to understand that service to the people must happen on its terms and its terms only, even when those people are demonstrably disgruntled. Perhaps our city fathers should take a closer look at the statutes that are supposed to guide them. By KHADIJA PATEL.

Poor President Jacob Zuma. His presidency has been defined by mishap after mishap. Some of the mistakes  he inherited; big chunks of problems he brought upon himself. But just when it felt like he finally had the situation under control, something new happened: massive push-back from the public. By SIPHO HLONGWANE.

Algeria goes to the polls on Thursday to elect a new parliament. With some bravado, the Algerian government has promoted these elections in advertisements as “Algeria’s Spring”, invoking the spirit of the Arab Spring. But this is just another opportunity for the country’s political elite to gain a semblance of legitimacy. By KHADIJA PATEL.

While most attention on the American electoral process has focused on the primary process within the Republican Party, South Africans should also take note of the outcome in the Republican primary election for the candidate for senator of Indiana. J BROOKS SPECTOR reflects upon long-time senator Richard Lugar’s defeat.

Overwhelming public pressure has led police minister Nathi Mthethwa to remove Richard Mdluli, the man with one of SA’s most famous rap sheets of alleged crimes, from his role as chief of criminal intelligence. It’s a win for the public and proof that President Jacob Zuma is the, like, Keith Richards of politics. By GREG NICOLSON.

Those dastardly liberal types responsible for drafting the new Zimbabwean constitution – aka “regime change weapon” – have crossed the line as far as Zanu-PF is concerned with their repeated attempts to smuggle in protection for gay rights and all kinds of other dangerous imperialist dogma. Consensus remains a long way off. By SIMON ALLISON.

While the social networks are having a field day about Zwelen Zille and Helenzima Vavi, a very serious leadership problem is developing in the opposition to the ANC's rule. By CHRIS GIBBONS.

It shouldn’t be hard to find Kazakhstan. It is a really big country of over 2.7-million square kilometres, more than 15 million people live there and it fills up a really big space on the map between the Caspian Sea and Siberia. And with a South African deputy minister’s visit to Astana, Kazakhstan’s new capital, a few days earlier, the country had even briefly made the local news. Well, sort of, anyway. By J BROOKS SPECTOR.

It hasn’t taken long for new President Joyce Banda to put her stamp on Malawi. In just over a month, she’s upset the African consensus on arresting Sudan’s President Bashir, devalued the country’s currency by half and in general been as different as possible from her late predecessor. This can only be a good thing, writes SIMON ALLISON.

Almost overshadowed by the case involving NPA boss Menzi Simelane, a ruling delivered on Tuesday by the North Gauteng High Court delivered diplomatic shockwaves. It compelled authorities to investigate allegations of state-sponsored torture and crimes against humanity in northern neighbour Zimbabwe. The ruling also opens the door for other victims of war crimes to seek relief through the SA criminal justice system. By OSIAME MOLEFE.

Well done to the top chaps who, months ago, sat down and plotted the eventual demise of Julius Malema. It has all gone to plan. But destroying Malema isn’t enough – if we accept that’s what all of this is all about. The ANC can ensure that the league never is a problem again by aggressively pursuing what could turn out to be the most powerful charge of the lot. By SIPHO HLONGWANE.

In a liberal fantasy world, South Africa’s Robin Hood, Zwelinzima Vavi, and Iron Lady Helen Zille would combine forces to take on the evil, rotting empire. In the real world, Zille would run away shrieking should Vavi turn up at Leeuwenhof with two million angry workers and Irvin Jim. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.

Controversial SA National Roads Agency boss, Nazir Alli, has pressed the “eject” button from a fighter jet that’s been losing some serious altitude over the past few weeks. His departure has been sudden and mysterious – and welcomed by many – but ALEX ELISEEV looks at the bigger picture and the turbulence that could follow.

When Nedbank chairman Reuel Khoza criticised the government, it unleashed a hailstorm of insults from the dizzying heights of the ruling party and the state. Auditor-general Terence Nombembe has now attacked the same leaders, yet government is politely chewing on his criticism. ALEX ELISEEV asks: What gives?

Maybe it was working, maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it would only work with even more pain, maybe no economic pain would be enough to make it work its supposed magic. But one thing is abundantly clear after Sunday’s elections: Europeans are giving a thumbs down on further belt tightening to reverse the economic malaise. By J BROOKS SPECTOR.

A stalemate in the never-ending race to chair the AU Commission is inevitable unless someone can show some real leadership. It’s time for our diplomats to ditch their egos and find a compromise candidate, or it’s Africa that will be compromised – again. BY SIMON ALLISON.

It is not turning out to be a good year for the ANC. What should have been a year-long celebration of its 100-year existence is in fact a 12-month brawl over leadership positions in the three alliance formations. Factional battles are so consuming the party’s grand plans to strengthen and renew itself that no one even notices the centenary torch crossing the country. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.

Yup – it’s that time again! Socialist-president-of-France time. We take a moment to imagine what president-elect François Hollande is thinking, as he prepares to spend money the French don’t have. By RICHARD POPLAK.

As evidence of President Jacob Zuma’s abuse of state security agencies piles up, the issue is becoming equivalent to Thabo Mbeki’s Aids opposition. And as it was with Mbeki, the Mdluli story gives Zuma’s opposition an issue to rally around. Could it be the president‘s master mistake? By GREG NICOLSON.

The week that was(n't) in beloved South Africa. Seriously. By JOHN VLISMAS & DUNCAN HARLING.

Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota hasn’t had much of a public face of late. Still, if his grand plan to oppose the ANC government’s Protection of State Information Bill and the e-tolling system works, we’ll be hearing from him and his party a lot more. No guarantee that the voice will be loud, though. By SIPHO HLONGWANE.

A bill said to be unconstitutional, to rubbish the rights of women and the vulnerable, and which makes traditional chiefs powerful overlords who aren’t subject to democratic checks or balances, is currently barrelling its way through the National Council of Provinces. Critics are saying the Tribal Courts Bill is “buying” loyalty for Zuma from tribal leaders. By MANDY DE WAAL.

Three men have been convicted of murdering popular Johannesburg police reservist Ishlove and will be sentenced next week. While the killers face life behind bars and balance has been restored in the fight between good and evil, ALEX ELISEEV argues that the loss of the reservist’s life should force us to look harder at the nightmare that has engulfed the police service.

London mayor Boris Johnson, a true-blue Tory, defied the Conservative Party’s waning popularity to be voted in for a second term. While the Tories must be relieved, you can bet leader David Cameron has mixed feelings. By REBECCA DAVIS.

It’s been a quarter of a century since South Africa’s last whites-only general election. CHRIS GIBBONS examines what’s changed and what hasn’t.

Naspers’s Sunday paper has always been influential, but under the leadership of Ferial Haffajee this clout has grown considerably. MANDY DE WAAL looks back over 30 years of City Press and wonders whether the paper will be able to convert influence into audience in the tough weekend press sector.

Wanna be a big shot film-maker in China? Do ya, punk? Meet Han Sanping, and think again. By RICHARD POPLAK.

Kenya’s incursion into Somalia last October, dubbed Operation Linda Nchi or Protect the Country, signalled a renewed vigour in the war against Al-Shabaab. As part of the operation, officials also launched a crackdown in the North Eastern province of Kenya, intent on weeding out the Somali cell of al-Qaeda sympathisers. In the process, Kenyan Somalis and Somali refugees were arbitrarily arrested and gravely mistreated. By KHADIJA PATEL.