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Home > In The Ring With Eusebius McKaiser > Episode 66 - DOES THE CONSTITUTION CONTAIN THE RIGHT VISION FOR AN IDEAL SOUTH AFRICA?
Podcast: In The Ring With Eusebius McKaiser
Episode:

Episode 66 - DOES THE CONSTITUTION CONTAIN THE RIGHT VISION FOR AN IDEAL SOUTH AFRICA?
Category: News & Politics
Duration: 00:59:58
Publish Date: 2022-02-01 18:00:00
Description:



Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh and I jointly hosted each other in a fun, experimental set-up where I appeared on his fantastic YouTube channel, and that in turn served also as the recording of this episode of In The Ring. 

We explored two framing questions about the constitution: first, is the vision for the country that is contained in the constitution the right vision for an ideal South Africa? Secondly, would changes to the constitutional text make any difference in helping us achieve a more just South Africa?

These proved to be complex questions that gave rise to some consensus but also much disagreement, which we teased out. We have different views about how to read the constitution, and different views about the actual vision as expressed within the constitution.

Along the way we debated whether the drafters of the constitutional text were bold and explicit enough about what a racially just society looks like.

The discussion about modifying the constitutional text also gave rise to interesting dialogue. I am deeply sceptical about the extent to which a differently crafted constitution - or a modified version of the current text - could help us overcome our governance weaknesses within the state. Sizwe in turn tried to persuade me that there could be some important causal effects that may flow from radically rethinking what the constitution says. 

Who was more persuasive? Or is the quasi-equilibrium note we ended on the most reasonable view to take (for now)?

You be the judge. Enjoy this episode. Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to In The Ring With Eusebius McKaiser. It takes only a few seconds on any podcast platform. And kindly spread the news about the podcast by sharing it widely.
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