Election 2019: change and stability in South Africa's democracy

Abstract

"The sixth general election since the arrival of democracy occured at a critical moment in South Africas's history. Since sweeping to a fifth electoral victory under the leadership of President Jacob Zuma in 2014, the ANC had become embroiled in one social scandal and failure of governance after another. It had allowed the state to be captured' by outside interests, corruption had flourished, the economy had plunged and the ruling party itself had become deeply divided between competing factions. When Cyril Ramaphosa, running on a reformist platform, won the race to become party leader at the ANC's national conference in December 2017, the stage was set for him to revive the economy and cleanse the state of corruption. Yet his narrow victory meant his internal party opponents remained sharply divided between pro and anti-Zuma factions. Ramaphosas road to reform was thus strewn with numerous obstacles."--Back cover