Study Topic Four:

1
Study Topic Four

• What Political Challenges Face the New South
  Africa?

2
Implications of the New Constitution

• The provinces have less power than they had under
  the Interim Constitution.
• There is concern that central government is too
  powerful.
• Within each province there are local councils who
  have responsibility for services such as water,
  electricity etc. It is argued they have not been
  given enough funding to do this effectively.

3
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)

• A two year enquiry into human rights abuses
  during apartheid (1996-1998).
• Victims and families would have the opportunity
  to testify about their suffering.
• Those who had committed human rights abuses could
  present their side of the story.
• If a person was truthful and could show their
  actions were politically motivated, they would
  receive amnesty for their crimes.
• All major political groups, including the ANC
  were criticised for their abuses of human rights.

4
The Main Political Parties

• African National Congress (ANC)
• Main opposition group during the apartheid years.
• Led by Thabo Mbeki
• Supported by the majority of the black
  population.
• Led the GNU 1994-1999

5
The Main Political Parties

• New National Party (NNP)
• Known as the party of apartheid.
• Main supporters are whites and coloureds.
• Led by Marthinus Van Schalkwyk
• Some members defected to other political parties
  before the 1999 election.

6
The Main Political Parties

• Democratic Party (DP)
• Existed during the apartheid years supported
  mainly by white liberals.
• Led by Tony Leon.
• Benefited from defections from the NNP in 1998.
• Need to attract black voters to become a more
  effective political party.

7
The Main Political Parties

• United Democratic Movement (UDM)
• Formed in 1997 by Rolf Meyer (former NP leader)
  and Bantu Holomisa (former ANC government
  minister)
• Need to develop its party organisation
• Has the potential to appeal to both black and
  white voters.

8
The Main Political Parties

• Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)
• Very much a regional party strong in the
  province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
• Led by Chief Buthelezi and aims to represent
  Zulus.
• Traditionally there has been tension between the
  ANC and IFP in the run up to the 1994 election
  there was a great deal of political violence in
  Kwa-Zulu Natal.

9
The Main Political Parties

• Freedom Front
• Right wing group who support white supremacy.
• Decided at the last minute to participate in the
  1994 election.
• Very much a minor party.
• N.B. There are other more extreme right wing
  groups e.g. AWB who refuse to participate in
  elections.

10
Political Opposition to the ANC

• One of the biggest issues in South Africa is that
  there is no political party that is strong enough
  to rival the ANC.
• In 2000 the DP and NNP, along with a smaller
  party called the Federal Alliance formed the
  Democratic Alliance (DA)
• Tony Leon, leader of the DP was appointed leaders
  with van Schalkwyk, leader of the NNP as Deputy
  Leader.

11
Political Opposition to the ANC

• In the local elections the DA achieved 23 of the
  vote.
• However Van Schwalkwyk resented that he had not
  been appointed leader and that key posts in the
  party were given to DP members. In 2001 he
  withdrew from the Democratic Alliance.
• In December 2001, the NNP joined the ANC
  government as a junior party.

12
The 2004 Election

• The ANC achieved its biggest every win gaining
  69.7 of the vote.
• It was the largest party in all 9 provinces and
  gained control of Kwa-Zulu Natal from IFP.
• The Democratic Alliance consolidated its position
  as the official opposition it was the only
  party apart from the ANC to win seats in all 9
  provinces.
• The election enables the ANC to change the
  constitution if it so wishes.

13
The Government of National Unity

• The ANC dominated the GNU.
• The NNP, including is leaders were given lowly
  posts in the government.
• ANC tried to humiliate Chief Buthelezi by
  offering two IFP members posts but not Buthelezi
  himself even though he has been a minister in
  the GNU since 1994.
• The IFP declined these posts and they were
  offered to the UDM.

14
The Death of the National Party

• In 2004 the NNP announced that its members should
  join the ANC and fight all future elections as
  part of the ANC.
• The party ceased to exist in September 2005.

15
The Afrikaner Community

• The Afrikaner Community feels increasingly
  isolated within South Africa.
• The Freedom Front has little influence in
  Parliament.
• The Volkstaat Council set up by Mandela was
  abolished by Mbeki in 2001.
• With less and less children being taught in
  Afrikanns due to schools now being multi-racial,
  many are concerned about the erosion of their
  language and culture.
• Frustration and anger led to white, right wing
  terrorists attacks in 2002.

16
Local Council Elections 2006

• Results
• ANC 66.59 194 councils
• DA 14.9 10 councils
• IFP 7.59 18 councils
• Turnout 46.72
• The ANC won a comfortable victory despite
• allegations of corruption and poor service
• delivery.

17
The Inkatha Freedom Party

• The IFPs poor showing in the 2004 election
  highlighted divisions within the party and led to
  criticism of Chief Buthelezis tight control of
  the party.
• The partys decline in support was also reflected
  in the 2006 local elections.
• The IFPs main concern is that the cultural and
  national identity of the Zulu people will be
  undermined by the ANC government.

18
South Africa Under Mbeki

• Under the constitution, a President can only
  serve for two terms.
• Mbekis economic policies e.g. privatisation of
  essential services such as electricity has been
  heavily criticised.
• The poorest sections of society has seen no major
  difference in the quality of the their lives.

19
South Africa Under Mbeki

• Mbeki has also been criticised for his
  controversial views on AIDS.
• The party list system means the party leaders
  decide who becomes MPs. Any ANC politician who
  criticises ANC policies will not be elected as an
  MP.
• Mbeki appoints not only his ministers but also
  the nine Premiers of the provincial governments.