South Africa has been in the headlines of late across the world after the death of former president and liberation hero Nelson Mandela, but the movement he dedicated his life to — the African National Congress — is in crisis. The country’s largest union, the National Union of the Metalworkers of South Africa, decided to break with the ANC last year to begin the process of constructing a new left movement. In this episode, Benjamin Fogel outlines the background to this development, the broader crisis in the ANC and the history of the South African black trade union movement, as well as future prospects for the Left.

The series is produced by Jacob Brownell and supported by our readers.