A HOUSE DIVIDED: BATTLE FOR THE MOTHER CITY

Dr Crispian Olver, researcher and author with Ferial Haffajee, journalist and newspaper editor

This lecture will focus on Crispian Olver’s recently published book, A House Divided: Battle for the Mother City, and will explore the underbelly of power, politics and property in the battle for political power in Cape Town. The story reveals the compromises that are made by city leaders to keep themselves in power, the way that city politics became closely intermeshed with internal party dynamics and the way that powerful property interests exerted influence over city government . The author will be in conversation with journalist and newspaper editor Ferial Haffajee who will challenge the author on some of his conclusions.

Recommended reading

Khan, Mushtaq H. 2000. Rents, Rent-Seeking and Economic Development: Theory and Evidence in Asia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Olver, Crispian. 2017. How to Steal a City – The Battle for Nelson Mandela Bay. Cape Town: Jonathan Ball.

Olver, Crispian. 2019. A House Divided – Battle For the Mother City. Cape Town: Jonathan Ball..