A real problem for the Democratic Alliance is that it cannot hope to displace the dominant African National Congress.
EFE-EPA/Kevin Sutherland
The problem for the Democratic Alliance is not one of policy. There is real substance in its commitment to substituting racial criteria for overcoming historical disadvantage.
The governing party’s good performance may signal confidence in the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook
Local government elections in South Africa have traditionally been characterised by low voter turnout.
The Democratic Alliance wants an end to race-based affirmative action policies.
EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook
Each black person and woman may be an individual but, because they are black and women, they face obstacles which whites and men don’t.
Failure to campaign due to COVID-19 has fuelled calls to synchronise polls.
EFE-EPA
The bigger parties which contest elections at all three levels would benefit the most – but voters might split their votes.
Bikers protest against the tobacco ban at Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa.
The government was initially praised for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic but powerful interests could now be pushing its containment plans off course
South African Tourism
The stalemate in Tshwane is a manifestation of coalition arrangements that serve the partisan interests of parties, to the detriment of citizens.
The African National Congress fought against the evils of apartheid, but couldn’t escape the sins of power itself.
EFE-EPA/Yeshiel Panchia
The book is set to heighten the debate about the future of the party, whose dominance has been in decline since 2009.
Cyril Ramaphosa is president of South Africa as well as president of the governing African National Congress. The party has scuppered coalition building at local government level.
EPA/Yeshiel Panchia
Coalitions work best when parties in the partnership are aligned politically.
Former leader of the Democratic Alliance, Mmusi Maimane. The politics of race in the party ended his tenure.
EPA/Nic Bothma
There is no moral equivalence between apartheid’s use of race categories and their continued use by the democratic government.
Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters Julius Malema (C) addresses the media after local elections in 2016.
EPA/Kim Ludbrook
Political mistrust is high as the country looks to the next municipal elections in 2021.
Johannesburg: one of three South African cities in which coalitions have collapsed.
EPA/Jon Hrusa
Successful coalition governance ultimately depends on political maturity and the ability to govern across divisions.
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The white liberal establishment, both inside and outside the Democratic Alliance, holds on to its race-blindness by distorting the South African idea of “non-racialism”.
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.