Summary: After these recent 2019 elections in South Africa, the ANC has won the national election under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Despite receiving 57.7% of the votes, this is the lowest amount of support for the ANC since they were first elected in 1994. This is partially due to the state of the country. South Africa is currently suffering, with inequality still quite a huge problem. The country is also having economic problems. According to the World Bank, "South Africa's richest households are almost 10 times wealthier than poor households. And the overall poverty levels still follow racial lines." Voters in South Africa started looking into more radical solutions to achieve change in South Africa, with smaller groups such as the far left EFF (Economic Freedom Front) having gotten more than 10% more of the votes in the election. The ANC also has had internal problems within the party, with the previous leader, Jacob Zuma having resigned from president due to corruption charges in 2018, and Ramaphosa taking over. This has caused the focus from solving many of the problems they face as a country to have been shifted to the corruption case instead.
Younger voters in South Africa, called "born frees" who were born after the end of apartheid, have also lost faith in the ANC and the democracy in South Africa due to how many of their problems have not been solved. Many of them chose not to vote in these elections. So far, the leaders of South Africa have not been able to bring about the amount of change the people wish for in the country, and do not have the mass amount of support from the people Mandela was able to get.
Reaction: I believe that the South African government still has a lot of work for them before South Africa becomes a mostly equal place for everyone. Although democracy and the end of apartheid made many lives better, they have many more obstacles and lots more work to help fully help South Africa fix their problems. Since 1994, I believe their transition to democracy has been quite successful, and the ANC has done a lot of good in making the country a much better place to live for everyone. With more time, I believe that the government can make South Africa much more equal and restore the people's faith in democracy.
Connection: This connects to our studies of South Africa and their experience with apartheid. We studied the election of 1994 in South Africa, and how it was the end of apartheid, and this is what has happened to South Africa since. During the 1994 election, people lined up very early in long lines to have the chance to vote. In this 2019 election however, many people have chosen to not even register to vote, illustrating how the end of apartheid and switch to democracy did make lives better in South Africa, but did not solve everything. Despite the hope from the 1994 election, everything has not been completely fixed in South Africa, mostly due to the short amount of time.
Questions:
Reaction: I believe that the South African government still has a lot of work for them before South Africa becomes a mostly equal place for everyone. Although democracy and the end of apartheid made many lives better, they have many more obstacles and lots more work to help fully help South Africa fix their problems. Since 1994, I believe their transition to democracy has been quite successful, and the ANC has done a lot of good in making the country a much better place to live for everyone. With more time, I believe that the government can make South Africa much more equal and restore the people's faith in democracy.
Connection: This connects to our studies of South Africa and their experience with apartheid. We studied the election of 1994 in South Africa, and how it was the end of apartheid, and this is what has happened to South Africa since. During the 1994 election, people lined up very early in long lines to have the chance to vote. In this 2019 election however, many people have chosen to not even register to vote, illustrating how the end of apartheid and switch to democracy did make lives better in South Africa, but did not solve everything. Despite the hope from the 1994 election, everything has not been completely fixed in South Africa, mostly due to the short amount of time.
Questions:
- Do you think the ANC will be able to remain in power in the future? Should they stay in power?
- Will South Africa be able to become what the people wished for before the election of 1994?
- Will more people in South Africa lose faith in the government and not vote?
Obviously there are a lot of big steps that need to be taken to overcome the effects from apartheid in South Africa. When Mandela ran, the ANC got the popular vote because it was a symbol of hope for the people of South Africa who wanted a just non-racial government. If the ANC is no longer actively solving issues in South Africa, it makes sense that citizens may feel hopeless, let down, or disappointed. That's why they probably don't even want to bother registering to vote. However, it is the people's job to vote for what they believe is best, and the government's job to follow through on their promises and effectively strive to make a better South Africa. If the ANC is no longer doing that, it makes sense that people will stop voting for the ANC. However, instead of passively ignoring governmental efforts, the people of South Africa should be seeking a solution instead of giving up and losing faith in the government. It seems that it will take a long time to undo the effects of apartheid, but for that reason the people of South Africa should remain faithful- and if not, they should seek better solutions that will effectively work on their current issues.
ReplyDeleteI think the ANC will remain is power. This is because even though the percentage of the population that is voting for them is going down, there are other factors that come into play. Fifty seven percent is still a very high majority, much larger than the twenty percent of the DA party, which is in second. Also, the current leader of the ANC, Ramaphosa, is very popular with the middle and lower class, which is the main base of the DA, which has also shown decline. This means that the distance between the first and second places will either stay the same or grow, as some the the regular DA voters might vote ANC out of respect for Ramaphosa in the coming elections. As long as they keep working to improve condtions and lives of the people, without corruption, they should stay in power. With proper leadership, resources, and time, Africa will be able to become what people wished for. Unless the youth are shown or taught how important the ANC was in south african history, the voter turnout might keep going down, as the elder, who know the importance and value, pass away.
ReplyDeleteSouth Africa election: ANC wins with reduced majority - BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48211598
How the ANC survived Jacob Zuma — and eked out a win in South Africa’s election
ANC celebrates South African election win – now the work begins
ANC keeps power in South Africa but scandals cost it votes
I agree with your statement that the ANC will probably stay in power and can make South Africa a better place for them. As you said, they do have quite a large majority, and now have better leadership. If they are able to avoid internal problems in the government, they are steadily improving conditions in South Africa and need more time. I also agree the youth most likely do not know how important having a vote is, since they do not really know what it is like not having one. Instead of already deciding democracy does not work due to large problems not having already been solved, they should vote and contribute if they want change.
DeleteI think that the ANC will remain in power for a little longer but people are impatient. If there is no change soon enough, they will want another party to take their place to try and achieve goals at a faster rate. If the ANC is trying to do all they can to help all the different races of South Africa, I think that they should stay in power. They have good intentions for their country. Maybe one day South Africa will be able to reach their goals of living in a country where every race is more equal. People have already stopped voting because their problems aren't being solved. If more people feel like this is happening, I wouldn't be surprised if more people decided not to vote. After all, it is hard to vote for someone if you don't believe in them or their ability to carry out his/her plan.
ReplyDeleteI think the ANC will only remain in power if they make the changes that their citizens want them to make. Life in South Africa is still rough for many people, but if the ANC could change some of their policies to level the playing field for lower income families, then they will still have control. I believe the ANC Should be allowed to have power because they suffered for so long under the apartheid system, and now the country has democratic elections, so the ANC should have the ability to rule the country. I don't think that South Africa will be able to be the country that people wanted before the elections because there are so many different viewpoints and desires that have to be satisfied. It is very hard to get a whole country unified under one front, especially when people want some things that are unobtainable, like complete equality or an end to discrimination. The effects of apartheid are still visible because the country was under the rule of apartheid for such a long time. The dream country for many is not possible because aspirations often outweigh what is possible. I think more people will lose faith in the government and not vote because many did not live under apartheid, and don't know how it feels to not have a voice. This happens in many countries where voting has become routine, so people don't feel the need to participate. In order for people to commit to voting again in South Africa, there needs to be a large event where people believe they have to vote, or else voting registration will continue to decline. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/05/17/how-anc-survived-jacob-zuma-eked-out-win-south-africas-election/?utm_term=.2dd545f47e74
ReplyDeleteEven with Jacob Zuma out of presidency, people that worked for him are still in positions of power in the government, so corruption is still happening in South Africa. Unless the ANC makes internal reforms, especially concerning their corruption, I find it hard to believe that the ANC can still stay in power. Furthermore, unless corruption is fixed, I feel that the ANC cannot properly carry out what the people in South Africa want. People are eager to change and if a powerful political power, even with a big historical influence, does not provide did, many will mostly likely turn to other parties to fix their problems.
ReplyDeleteHaving corruption in the government can make people feel that their votes do not matter or others will just vote for them, possibly contributing to the lack of voting in the younger generations.
In the end a combination of less people voting and people voting for other parties is what will most likely be happening in the near future of South Africa unless reforms are made.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/13/opinion/south-africa-election.html
After the corruption of zuma the peoples trust needs to be one back for the party. They have the benefit of being the party that one democracy for south africa but as time goes by people will begin to only care about results and this party has done pretty bad economically.As you see the support declining if ramaphosa's term is uneventful or poor the ANC will loose in the next election.
ReplyDeleteI think that the people of south Africa will always vote because they have lived in a time where they did not have that rite. However people will stop voting for the anc if they do not clean up their act.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the ANC will not be able to maintain power if they continue to have corruption scandals. People will inevitably turn to other options if they feel that there old party no longer supports their interests. The idea that young voters chose not to vote is alarming because it shows how they are willing to let others make decisions for them. All though it may seem like they are protesting their government, they are really just giving up their voice in democracy. As we learned about apartheid we saw how many people voted in the first elections, and seeing how the trend is dying shows how, like in America, people start to mix up privilege with rights. I believe that more people will start to lose faith in their government; however, I think that they should use voting and protesting to make their voices and changes heard. It is clear that racial bias is still a huge problem in South Africa, and I think it will be very important for the next generations of young people to make sure they are not marginalized.
ReplyDeleteI believe the ANC will not be able to remain in power, unless they make some large changes. South Africa's economy is failing and unemployment rates are skyrocketing. This problem in South Africa has been going on for too long, many are saying this falls upon President Cyril Ramaphosa. "As of late, the party's reputation has been tarnished by years of "rampant corruption, influence-peddling scandals and accusations it failed to deliver on a promise to end in equality for black south Africans." ALthough first brought to the world stage by beloved leader Nelson Mandela, the ANCs reputation is now quite tarnished. Previous President Zuma was forced out of power, for corruption, yet the ANC still scrapes by maintaining the majority vote. Unless the ANC cleans up their act and fixes the problems hurting South Africa, I believe another party may win in the next election(s). https://www.npr.org/2019/05/11/722416428/south-africas-president-ramaphosa-anc-hold-on-to-power-in-national-elections
ReplyDeleteWith the young people of South Africa continuously losing faith in voting and turning away from the ANC there is no doubt that the ANC will eventually fall out of power or be forced to make changes in order to adjust for the future and it’s needs. I think that the ANC and their control of government was important during the end of apartheid, as a “fresh start” is exactly what they country needed. The ANC achieved their initial goal by establishing a clean slate for the country in terms of the end of apartheid and the chance of equal lives for all. However, while an ANC controlled government was what the country needed in 1994 the future generations and their dissatisfaction with life in South Africa proves that the ANC is no longer what the country needs. It’s concerning that the younger generations of South Africa, the people that are the country’s future, are beginning to set a precedent of not voting. Voting is losing its meaning in South Africa which I found shocking after learning about the turnout of the 1994 election, an election that was only about 20 years ago. Something needs to change in South Africa, either the young people need to realize they must use their voices to make a change and subsequently remove the ANC from power, or the ANC must change their ways and adjust to the future generations demands.
ReplyDeleteI think South Africa will eventually become the country the people wanted in 1994. It will take a long time before they notice any changes because it is a very big change. The economy will have to change overtime as it is right now. The next generations to come will also have to fight for equality in South Africa so they can get what they wished for; a better South Africa. I also believe that the people of South Africa deserve a better country because they fought for so long and sacrificed so much for the future generations to be able to live in a better South Africa.
ReplyDeleteApartheid had such a big effect on South Africa and fixing its effects will take a lot of time, knowledge, and effort. The article says how some people are looking for radical changes for something new to happen in South Africa. This seems like another case of desperation from people wanting something new to happen without really thinking about possible consequences, I'm not blaming the people who voted for radical parties, I understand what they could be thinking and how radical changes seems like a good solution. Saying that, I believe that the ANC's message and goals still align with what they initially pushed for and they are still trying to fix problems based on apartheid while also needing to tackle problems that countries normally face. The goals that people set for South Africa after the change to democracy in 1994 isn't unrealistic, but seems very difficult based on how segregated and oppressive South Africa was during apartheid. I would want to say that sometime in the future South Africa will be able to fix their problems, but that fact that apartheid ended only 25 years ago, something just as life-altering could happen in the next 25 years. Looking at the state that South Africa is in right now, it is understandable that people are losing faith in the government. There are still many problems in South Africa that have remains of apartheid laws, but losing faith in the government, the only thing that can solve the problems makes it harder for problems to be solved. Overall, this situation doesn't have a clear solution and the solutions that do come up have consequences or don't really solve the problem.
ReplyDeleteI don't doubt that it's possible for South Africa to achieve the state that 1994 voters wished for it to become. Anything is possible-- in this case, it seems to be a question of when and under what circumstances rather than one of absolute feasibility. When will South Africa's political parties produce a candidate that is willing to do everything it takes to bring about the kind of change people would like to see? Furthermore, when will all of society be ready to accept these changes and see them implemented into their everyday lives? Major change can't just be the responsibility of a single party or political figure. The citizens of a country (i.e., the ones who are impacted the most by new policy) need to be receptive and willing to do their part to bring about change. This includes willingness to do their democratic duty and vote. I understand the South Africans' frustration with the current circumstances, and I see how voting can seem trivial in the face of such rampant problems, but if the country stops upholding a system that is meant to help them, there is no way it will ever be able to operate as it is intended to. It's sad to see, from an outsider's perspective, how the "novelty" of voting (especially for black South Africans) has worn off even since the 1994 elections, a mere 25 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI think that the ANC should stay in power as long as that's what the people want. The election of the south African ruler is democratic after all. If the ANC is not working or is not effective at solving the problems that South Africa faces, then it should be time for a different party. They shouldn't just be elected for the things they did long ago. South Africa can't change instantly and it'll take a lot of time and effort in order to reach the goal that they envisioned in 1994. The people just have to work towards it and try to expedite it as much as they can. I don't think that people will lose hope because they are still moving closer to their goal, just maybe not as fast as they had thought. With a little perseverance and effort they can probably get there in the near future.
ReplyDeleteEric L
DeleteAlthough it seemed that the ANC miraculously were able to gain power to end apartheid, in reality, the ANC is starting to weaken. If they continue their corruption, then the ANC would not and should not be able to stay in power. The chaotic state of the government will cause create popular distrust and a great unbalance in representation of South Africans. This could eventually lead to even more disastrous consequences, such as South Africa's current poor economic state. Without great changes, South Africa cannot become the country it had aspired to be. A country does need a leader that represents the large majority, but the leader more importantly should be effective. Additionally, apartheid did take away the representation of the majority, but a democracy has many drawbacks, for example, allowing too much representation. This leads to ineffective leadership of a country. I feel that South Africa could possibly become the country they aspired to be when they find their most effective system of government in between the scales of government.
ReplyDelete