Our South African coverage is focused on the transition from the Apartheid regime to a democratic one.  For a general picture Alec Russell, the Financial Times’ former Johannesburg bureau chief offers his best books on South Africa.  John Carlin, another journalist who covered South Africa during the transition from Apartheid to democracy gives his best books on Understanding Mandela and South Africa.  He stresses the use Mandela made of forgiveness in achieving his political objectives.  Colleen Murphy speaks at length on South Africa as a paradigm in her interview on her best books on Transitional Justice.

Jonny Steinberg chooses his best books on identity in South Africa and Kevin Bloom his best books on post-Apartheid identity in South Africa.  Justin Cartwright also looks at South African experience on discussing his best books on Being White in Africa.

Imraan Coovadia chooses his five best books on South African fiction.  Daniel Norcross discusses cricket controversies during the Apartheid era and Steve Bloomfield talks about the role of football pre- and post-Apartheid in his discussion of World Football.

The journalist Heather Brooke talks about the role of newspapers in Apartheid South Africa in her best books on Holding Power to Account and South African issues are also touched on by the Ghanaian economist, George Ayittey in his best books on Africa through African Eyes and by the historian David Olusoga on his best books on Race and Slavery.