South Africa: A robust, if not always dignified, democracy

Better than those who try to tie the fate of South Africa to that of a single man, Nelson Mandela understood that the building of democracy in a country is the responsibility of all of its people. That is why he was able to stand down as president of South Africa and let the country and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) find their own way forward.

It is a responsibility which many South Africans take seriously, despite the insistence of those who promote African sterotypes and claim that the ruling ANC has untrammelled power to implement its policies. They also appear to be ignorant of the fact that the ANC is a party divided on many social and economic policies and there is often a large gap between its popular proposals and what is implemented as government programmes. For example, it is in the process of expelling the former leader of its youth wing, Julius Malema, a powerful, popular figure who was embarrassing the party and advocating the nationalisation of mines.

Different factions in the ANC have a democratic right to put forward their ideas, including changes to the constitution, no matter how uncomfortable it may be for the country and the ruling party. This is known as freedom of speech. Democracy in South Africa is protected by its citizens vigorously exercising their basic rights. The country has a strong trade union movement that is not unwilling to challenge the ANC — with which it has a political alliance — when if feels it is necessary. Earlier this month, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) led a general strike in protest against government plans to toll highways and to back its calls for labour market reforms. Cosatu has been the most vocal critic of ANC members who have enriched themselves under the guise of black economic empowerment.

Campaigning hard

A fiercely independent media provides a platform for political parties and civil society and has called elected and ANC officials to publicly account for real and perceived wrongdoing. The national commissioner of the South African police is currently suspended and under investigation for corruption, after revelations in the press. Media organisations in South Africa are presently campaigning hard, with some effect, against attempts by the government to promulgate legislation that may harm their efforts to hold officials to account.

South Africa also has a very vocal and active civil society and opposition political parties which often resort to a still independent and respected judiciary, among other institutions. While the ANC does not always treat these organisations with the necessary respect or deference, they are still held in high regard by South Africans.

South Africa and the ANC must quickly confront the danger that corruption will become institutionalised and that persistently high unemployment will make it impossible for the country to deal with its many social problems, especially crime. But, for now, the country has enough good people to ensure it remains a robust, if not always dignified, democracy.