Restless nation

William Gumede is Associate Professor and Convener: Political Economy at the Graduate School of Public and Development Management at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He is the founder of Democracy Works, a new foundation promoting democracy in South Africa and other African countries, as well as in developing countries in the rest of the world. Gumede is a former lead advisor of the Development Bank of Southern Africa and former deputy and managing editor of The Sowetan newspaper. He has started a number of successful public, private and non-profit entities; and chaired the boards of several local and international organisations. Before the end of apartheid, Gumede held leadership positions in South Africa's student, trade union and civic movements. He is a bestselling author and prolific writer who regularly contributes columns and articles to local and overseas publications. His most recent publication is an eshort entitled South Africa in BRICS: Salvation or Ruination and Restless Nation (2012). His book Thabo Mbeki and the Battle for the Soul of the ANC was published to great acclaim in 2005.