About us
The aim of this project is an exploration of the role played by business in South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy.
This is a project of the Centre for Mediation in Africa and is funded by the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria and the International Labor Organisation (ILO).
Our team is led by Dr Cori Wielenga, Acting Director of the Centre for Mediation in Africa. Further team members from the University include Dr Quraysha Ismail Sooliman, Ashleigh Shangare, Neil Kasselman, Marlie Holtzhausen and Nontando Ndhlovu. Harry Gouvelis is part of our team as expert advisor, and Parvez Khan and Allan Tshuma provide technical support.
This project explores the role played by business in South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy.
While the part played by opposition parties, civil society, religious leaders and the international community in ending apartheid via pressure and sanctions is largely undisputed, the role played by private business and business elites both within and outside of South Africa is often disputed, and a gap exists in the public knowledge as to who the influential actors were. This archive allows us to engage with this knowledge and grapple with the difficult questions about the role of business in times of crises and transition.