SOUTH Africa’s national and provincial elections on May 29, 2024, will be remembered as the moment the country’s political foundations were irreversibly shaken.
On the 30th anniversary of the 1994 democratic elections—a milestone that marked the end of apartheid and the dawn of majority rule—the 2024 elections upended the political status quo, ushering in an era of coalition governance and splintered loyalties.
The ANC’s fall from grace
For the first time since the advent of democracy, the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority in Parliament, a crushing defeat that reflected growing public discontent with its leadership.
Years of corruption scandals, an energy crisis that plunged the nation into darkness, chronic water shortages, and a stalling economy had eroded faith in the party that once symbolised hope and liberation.
Pre-election…
