S6 E9: Navigating democracy: insights from the 2024 South African elections
Africa Rights TalkPlay episode
Show notes
In conversation with Tendai Mbanje
In this episode, we delve into the pivotal 2024 South African elections, exploring significant shifts in political representation and the ANC’s historic loss of its majority.
Mr Mbanje explores the seismic changes witnessed during the 2024 elections, including shifts in party dynamics, emerging voices, and the impact on parliamentary composition. He notes ANC’s unprecedented loss as the highlight of this election. The ANC, a dominant force for three decades, faced a surprising defeat in which he analyses the factors contributing to this shift and reflects on the party’s trajectory.
Furthermore, he commends the Electoral Commission for its effectiveness in carrying out its duties and notes that it only faced logistical challenges during this election which differed from the numerous logistical hurdles, technology adoption, and ensuring voter participation issues usually encountered in previous elections. He finally weighed in on the implications of the election results for democratic institutions, accountability, and citizen trust, nationally, regionally and globally.
Mr. Tendai Shepherd Mbanje is an accomplished scholar and advocate, and currently a Project Officer, at the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit (EIDR), Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. He has made significant contributions to African governance and electoral processes. His research focuses on the critical role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) within the African Union. Mr. Mbanje’s work sheds light on credible and legitimate electoral practices, emphasising transparency, accountability, and youth engagement. His insights resonate beyond South Africa, influencing democratic norms and practices in neighbouring African nations, and exploring strategies to combat disinformation and ensure credible electoral outcomes.
This conversation was recorded on 07 June 2024.
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