Elections are a fundamental pillar of democracy, and most countries adopt one of two main systems: constituency representation or proportional representation (PR). Each system comes with its own set of pros and cons, influencing how citizens are represented and how governments are formed.
Political analyst and governance expert Hlumelo Xaba explained, “Elections take place in every country, typically every four to five years. When you elect representatives, you’re essentially choosing which party or coalition will govern for that term.”
However, Xaba noted that South Africa has entered a new phase of governance, particularly at the national level.
“We’ve now entered an era of coalitions,” he said. “This began around 2016, when coalition governments first emerged in major metros like Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane. That’s when the ANC started dipping below the 60% mark in elections, signalling a significant political shift.”
According to Xaba, the 2021 local government elections were a major turning point, as the ANC dropped below 50% nationally and in two provinces. “This compelled them to enter coalition arrangements, where no single party holds absolute power. In such settings, decisions must be negotiated among partners—fundamentally changing how governance works in South Africa.”
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VOC News
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