Congress of the People

Sixty years on, the Freedom Charter is as relevant as ever

Sixty years ago the Congress of the People gathered on a dusty field in Kliptown to draft the document that would lead South Africa to liberation. The Freedom Charter is the foundation for South Africa's Constitution and its demands are as relevant now as they were in 1955.

Remembering the voices of the women of 1956

On 9 August 1956, 20 000 voices cried out: "You strike a woman, you strike a rock". South Africa's women had spoken, saying they were neither meek nor mild, but the bedrock on which their communities were founded, and they would not let their freedoms be trespassed upon.

A guide to South African political parties

With 13 parties represented in Parliament, South Africa has a vibrant multiparty political system. While the African National Congress is in the majority, opposition parties remain robust and vocal. Here's a quick rundown of South African party politics.

Women in Parliament on the rise

Women's representation in the National Assembly has increased to 45%, putting South Africa third in the international women in Parliament rankings.