Natalie Cowling
Research Expert South Africa
Politics in South Africa - statistics & facts
A wave of civil unrest began in South Africa when former President Jacob Zuma was handed down a 15-month prison sentence on July 8, 2021. Zuma was found to be in contempt of court as he had refused to appear at a “state capture” enquiry, which is a term used to describe a form of corruption whereby politicians and businesses cooperate unlawfully to influence a country’s decision-making to their own advantage. Despite the controversy, Zuma has remained a prominent and influential figure in South African politics.
Overall, the newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU) got off to positive start in June 2024 by providing much needed stability in South Africa. Consequently, markets responded favorably, and business relations improved. Nevertheless, many problems remain, and the mass close-markedly expects the GNU to manage to work around political uncertainties and deliver on their promises.
The complicated legacy of Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma joined the then outlawed African National Congress (ANC) party in 1959 during their liberation struggle in the apartheid era. In 1962, he joined the ANC’s military wing (Umkhonto we Sizwe) and a year later he was imprisoned on Robben Island as a political prisoner for 10 years alongside Nelson Mandela. After his release, he spent many years in exile but played a key role in ANC activism, particularly in Mozambique and Zambia. Once he returned to South Africa, he rose through the ranks of the ANC, becoming the Deputy President in 1999 under President Thabo Mbeki. In 2009, he was elected as the President of South Africa and served two terms from 2009 to 2018. In December 2023, Zuma launched the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which contributed significantly to the ANC’s decline in support. Although Zuma was barred from becoming a member of parliament due to his prior conviction, this did not deter his loyal supporters from voting for the MK party, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.Democratic struggles
South Africa has been a democratic republic since 1994. The government is a parliamentary republic encompassing a three-tier system with an independent judiciary. The three tiers of government are described as national, provincial, and local and each one has its own legislative and executive authority. All three tiers of government are headed by the Constitution and function in accordance with the laws and regulations set by Parliament. Although South Africa has a relatively strong democratic culture, the country is considered to have a flawed democracy according to its overall democracy index. Additionally, there is a growing dissatisfaction with the way democracy works in the country, which has largely been brought on by the perceived levels of corruption.Socioeconomic challenges
Over the last two years, South Africa has seen an increasing number of protests mostly due to poor service delivery, which refers to the distribution of basic resources such as electricity and water. Moreover, South Africans feel that the government is not addressing their needs or prioritizing socio-economic transformations, i.e. reducing the concerning levels of unemployment. Additionally, excessive power outages have exacerbated unemployment as it has disrupted production, prevented businesses from growing, and weakened investments. However, since the deferment of rolling blackouts in March 2024, a decline in service delivery protests has been observed.Overall, the newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU) got off to positive start in June 2024 by providing much needed stability in South Africa. Consequently, markets responded favorably, and business relations improved. Nevertheless, many problems remain, and the mass close-markedly expects the GNU to manage to work around political uncertainties and deliver on their promises.
