Mmusi Maimane, former leader of South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance.
Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE
Mmusi Maimane’s resignation highlights one of the core problems of democratic South Africa - the assumption that the only way to do anything is the way white men did it in the past.
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa (L) is congratulated by Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane after being elected president.
EPA/Nic Bothma
South Africa’s parliamentary system would make it difficult to achieve a fusion of parties.
Supporters of the Democratic Alliance in South Africa gather earlier this year to listen to the party’s leaders.
Epa/Kim Ludbrook
Race is the fault line. Prominent black DA figures label attempts to remove leader Mmusi Maimane as an attempt by whites to force black members into a subordinate position.
Mmusi Maimane, leader of South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance.
EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook
Because it’s a blend of political influences the transition it is facing has, inevitably, had an existential effect on the Democratic Alliance.
South Africans who receive welfare grants vote for the governing African National Congress more than any other party.
EPA-EFE/Kim Ludbrook
The survey findings show that people who had taken part in protests over the last five years were more likely to vote for opposition parties.
Cyril Ramaphosa led the African National Congress to victory in May. A new law on political funding covers parties, not politicians.
EPA-EFE/Yeshiel Panchia
Secrecy over who funds political parties should trigger fears that government decisions will reflect the wishes of large donors.
Glen Mashinini, the head of South Africa’s electoral commission announces the 2019 elections results.
GCIS
The recent election has shown again that the extremism which worries democrats in much of the world has little traction in South Africa.
The Democratic Alliance has transformed itself from an overwhelmingly white party to a majority black party.
EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook
Despite its endurance, the Democratic Alliance still hasn’t found a firm foothold to grow the votes in South Africa’s changing political landscape.
Peter Marais, the Freedom Front Plus’ candidate for Western Cape premier, left, and party leader, Pieter Groenewald.
Brendan Magaar/African News Agency(ANA).
The FF+‘s constituency is overwhelmingly Afrikaner white Protestants. But, it appears to have made inroads among coloured conservatives.
Former president of South Africa Jacob Zuma and current president Cyril Ramaphosa are supported by different factions.
EPA-EFE/Stringer
The election will not change the government, but may change the balance of power between the two factions of the governing ANC, led by Cyril Ramaphosa and Jacob Zuma.
Are South Africa’s biggest political parties offering anything new to inject much-needed life into the ailing education system?
flickr/ GovernmentZA
Here’s what researchers found when they assessed the election manifestos of South Africa’s three biggest political parties’ and what they say about education.
None of South Africa’s political parties are offering middle class black people a home.
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The black middle class are angry at their exclusion from mainstream economic activity.
African National Congress supporters at the party’s manifesto launch.
Epa/Kim Ludbrook
South Africa has the world’s largest white minority living under black rule.Colour line tensions might remain a feature of the country’s political landscape.
A man challenges police during a protest in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg.
EPA-EFE/Kim Ludbrook
To claim that protests are being organised suggests sinister motives. But all protest is organised. So are cake sales and shopping expeditions.
Mmusi Maimane, leader of South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, on the campaign trail.
EFE-EPA /Kim Ludbrook
There is a huge divide between what is important right now and what the election is likely to be about.
South Africans queue to cast their vote in a recent election. The country holds five-yearly national elections on 8 May.
EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook
South Africa’s polls have been praised for adhering to international election best practice. But, they are not without problems.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa putting final touches to his state of the nation address in which he took a hard stance on corruption.
GCIS
Corruption has, over the past decade and a half, become one of South Africans’ biggest concerns.
South Africans head to the polls in May 2019 but there are challenges.
Niyazz/Shutterstock
South Africa’s electoral commission’s failure to ensure a credible voters’ roll threatens to undo its legacy of free and fair elections.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa faces the daunting task of fighting corruption and winning votes for his party.
GCIS
Polls indicate that South Africans are unlikely to totally abandon the African National Congress.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is now more popular than his governing party, the ANC.
EFE-EPA/Stringer
The ANC has lost so much support among its traditional voters it’s now forced to look beyond them to retain power.