political system , is that voters have begun to feel indifference towards elections in South Africa . Frustrated citizens , who faithfully vote but whose daily challenges and needs remain unaddressed , choose to either change their voting patterns or withhold their votes by boycotting elections . In extreme cases , this might lead to a general hostility towards electoral politics and the democratic processes that they entail . The responsibility to remedy this resides with those in power and the parties that oppose them . Those in power bear the responsibility of visibly improving the lot of those whose votes they seek to court . The opposition , on the other hand , has to persuade prospective voters that they are better alternatives and deserve to be placed in authority . The ANC , as the party in government , naturally incurs the primary responsibility for voter apathy and lack of participation .
Another major talking point about the 2021 municipal elections is the performance of the two dominant parties , the ANC and the Democratic Alliance ( DA ). In the 2016 elections , the ANC and DA got 53.91 % and 26 % respectively . In 2021 , the ANC reduced its tally to 46.04 % and the DA to 21.83 %. Again , several issues , some selfinflicted , are responsible for these declines . The ANC has been in power for 27 years – the entire gamut of South Africa ’ s postapartheid era . While it has made strides in providing amenities such as housing , sanitation , education and employment opportunities , it has also been deficient in substantially transforming or changing a socio-economic structure that is simply impregnable for previously disadvantaged South Africans . This translates into the persistent economic exclusion of black South Africans . It ’ s worth noting that the ANC had well-intentioned initiatives such as Affirmative Action and the Reconstruction and Development Programme to remedy the situation . However , these initiatives were infected by tokenism and incompetence , thereby benefitting a few ‘ connected ’ people while leaving the poor in their fringe position .
Worse still , factors such as recent cases of corruption and factional wrangles have further eroded the party ’ s integrity . As I write this , the party ’ s Secretary-General , Ace Magashule , is under suspension and is in court facing allegations of corruption . Furthermore , the short imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma in July 2021 , which led to protests in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces , further divided the party . All these factors , happening in an election year , were bound to have a telling impact on the performance of the ANC .
From ANC ’ s woes , one would expect that the DA , as the main opposition , would benefit . Voter percentages show that this has not been the case . The DA has suffered its own mortal blows . It has failed to shake off the belief that it is a racist party . In light of the gains that have been made by smaller parties ( such as the Economic Freedom
Fighters , Inkatha Freedom Party and the Freedom Front Plus ) and a noticeable maiden performance by ActionSA , many hope that , in subsequent elections , the incorrigibility on the part of the dominant parties will be penalized .
For the ANC , the last two municipal elections ( 2016 and 2021 ) point to a rot that is gnawing at the party . Apart from issues of service delivery which are keenly felt by many South Africans , the party also has to do a comprehensive in-house cleaning . Moreover , the ANC will also have to gird itself for difficult discussions with those they might seek coalitions with . This is so because , in some quarters , the ANC has become so unpopular that associating with it might be costly for some political players . Finally , young people , especially with no tangible memory of apartheid , will demand that their circumstances be improved , regardless of who is in power . Consequently , the ANC can no longer be complacent that it will rule in perpetuity . The fact that it played a seminal role in bringing about the end of apartheid and thus securing suffrage for black South Africans does not entitle it to unthinking endorsement .
Indications are that the ANC might not rule until the Second Coming , after all . ❧ ❧ ❧
Dr Emmanuel Matambo is a Senior Researcher at the University of Johannesburg ’ s Centre for Africa-China Studies .
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