Join Election Observers Tour of South Africa

Tour leaders

• Peter Sullivan, former editor-in-chief of Independent Newspapers in South Africa and a former political correspondent covering Parliament
• Brian Currin, a South African human rights lawyer, renowned international mediator, former national director of Lawyers for Human Rights and counsel for victims to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission
• William Saunderson-Meyer, writes the weekly current affairs column, Jaundiced Eye, in the Weekend Argus, The Citizen and the Independent On Saturday. He was a Visiting Fellow in Journalism at Oxford and holds an MSc Management (Oxford)
• Harald Pakendorf, prominent former editor and political analyst

"The 2014 general election is going to be seminal for any student of South African politics, or anyone who does business here or wants to do business here," says Meropa chief executive, Peter Mann. "Our seven-day Election Observers Tour will take delegates around the country to the places that are going to be the most-contested.

"Observers will see what is happening on the ground first-hand, supplemented by in-depth meetings with high-profile South Africans, including political leaders, analysts, academics, economists, journalists and ordinary South Africans.

"It is a grandstand view and a crash course on South Africa. The tours will visit KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and Gauteng. There is a huge and growing interest in this type of event, internationally and in South Africa.

"We have carefully chosen the four people who will lead each group. They are high-level experienced South Africans who know the country intimately and who have outstanding contacts and insights."

The tours, from 3-9 May 2014 are offered on an all-inclusive basis including all domestic travel, luxury accommodation and food and local drinks. To book, go to www.meropa.co.za, email Kate Botha on az.oc.aporem@betak or call +27 (0)11 5067300/7372.