Professor Ntsebeza, from the best university - the University of Cape Town, gave a presentation on Mandela's position towards democracy. He described the two roots of Mandela's thoughts: liberal democracy and tribal democracy. The first one is the one the struggle was for: elections and direct representation. The second one relates to the way he grew up in his village: participative democracy, somewhat idealised according to Prof Ntsebeza. This tension is present in Mandela himself. The current developments in South Africa are also trying to find a balance or a way between the two. In many places, tribal authorities have not been dismantled. On another level, most decisions are taken according to liberal democracy. Interesting to hear all that coming from an academic.
Prof Ntsebeza is very much encouraged by the recent political events. There is the chance to have a robust discussion on politics and for serious multi-party democracy. This is why he is quite critical about Archbishop Desmond Tutu's stance that he would not vote in the next elections.
