Despite huge potential, South Africa’s embroiled in turmoil

Less than 10 years ago, South Africa looked on the cusp of a glorious period. Instead it is in danger of throwing it all away through misstep after misstep, writess Kyran Fitzgerald.

South Africa is a bit like a gangling teenage boy — you can spot his potential yet there is a nagging concern that it all could go badly wrong.

Less than a decade ago, the mood in the country was upbeat in spite of a very serious ongoing health crisis stemming from the Aids epidemic.