In November 2011, the National Assembly passed the Secrecy Bill, ignoring a monumental public outcry. It was a sad day for South Africa's democracy, and it became known as Black Tuesday.

In 1989, Francis Fukuyama declared that democracy would eventually emerge as the universal form of human government. The intervening years have given ample ammunition to those who disagree.

Edna Molewa, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, issued the following statement at the UNFCCC COP17 press briefing on Tuesday 29 November.

Industrial conflict and protests that are currently taking place in South Africa may cause unwanted disruption, but it is a positive sign that those who are doing so have the freedom to express their sentiments in a peaceful way.