South Africa Flashcards
Pre colonial South Africa
Many different well developed state like entities like the Zulu kingdom and Khoisan people (2000 BC)
17th -19th century = colonization
1814 cape colony becomes British
II. Arrival of Dutch settlers and settlement of the Cape of Good Hope region has a supply colony
on their way to Indonesia - “Boers” (1652);
III. Dutch arrive at (1652);
IV. Cape Town is taken over by the British and they take over the absolution of slavery (1795);
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|—> Boers move Eastward and establish the Boer Republic - “Great Trek” (1835) causing lots of war/disagreements
Last for several decades and are self governing
Boer wars and union
1880-1881 first boer war -> brits defeated by boer republics
1899-1902 second boer war -> brits are more powerful, guerrilla tactics and scare tactics like concentration camps
Boer republics become part of the empire
1910 union of south Africa
- ANC founded in 1912
* 1926 independence from UK and discrimination in former boer territories continued
Namibia became independent from SA after 1990
Apartheid regime 1948-1994
1948 national party starts apartheid
* Racial segregation, 4 different race groups
1960 Sharpeville massacre
* Peaceful protest by black people was neergeslagen met massacre
Very violent regime
After a time violent resistance against the regime
X. The National Party starts apartheid (1948);
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|—> Population registration and group areas act (1950);
|—> Separate representation of voters act (1951);
|—> Only whites (10-20% of the population) have political rights;
|—> Formally democratic institutions;
|—> Politics dominated by National Party;
1963 Rivonia trial -> Mandela incarcerated
Apartheid political system
1950 population registration and group areas act
* Determined areas where people could live, and segregation of people into 4 races
1951 only whites could vote after separate representation of voters act
1983 third south African constitution
* 3 chambers
Apartheid core features
- Only whites, 10-20% of population have political and human rights
- Classified as competitive oligarchy Dahl 1971
o There is competition, not mass participation - Nominally democratic institutions
- Parliamentary system with ceremonial president
- Politics dominated by national party
The Bantustans
So-called homelands for the black cultures the government identified
For 80% of people, but compromised of less than 10% of land
Often dry land, not really nice
1990s end of apartheid
SA was ally of western powers
* So western powers tolerated apartheid
End of cold war -> SA alliance was no longer needed so western countries and pol. Parties could condemn and criticize apartheid
1980s/1990s SA became isolated on world stage, resulting in stagnating economy, embargo’s on SA so apartheid was no longer viable
* Apartheid ministers, presidents and politicians started reforms
1990 Mandela freed form prison
1993 adoption of interim constitution
1994 first democratic elections
A new settlement
1996 truth and reconciliation commission established (TRC)
* Acknowledge and heal the nation
1996 new constitution adopted (drafted by ANC and NP)
Apartheid political system modified and extended
Mandela incorporated whites into his party
Most apartheid institutions remained in place
Mass suffrage is main change
1994-1997 government of national unity (ANC, NP, IFP)
* Only lasted 3 years
Cleavages race and religion
Apartheid, four official races
10 Bantustans -> Within black population, there are ethnic and linguistic differences
White divisions and black divisions
11 official languages
Rainbow nation?
Cleavages race
- Apartheid between 4 different races;
- White divisions between Afrikaans/English;
- Black divisions between more than 11 ethnic groups;
- 11 official languages;
- Called the Rainbow Nation by Nelson Mandela;
1996 settlement
Liberal vs majoritarian notions of democracy
Lijphart “clearly a consociational democracy”
Debate position of
* Presidency (rotating or not)
* Bicameralism (strong or weak)
* Electoral system (PR or SMD)
* Grand coalition (government of national unity)
* Power sharing longevity (1 term or longer)
* Decision making within GNU (veto-power)
ANC has won the debate
Hamill “comprehensive victory for a majoritarian political philosophy”
Constitution -mixed republican system
- Supreme law of the land (see Germany)
- Emphasis on minority rights (liberal democracy)
- Strong emphasis on affirmative action
Institutions - mixed republican system
- Parliamentary system with executive presidency
- Directly elected parliament (only lower house)
- President elected by parliament
- Government depends on parliamentary majority
- Decentralized provincial government (but no formal federation)
Parliament = national assembly
400 members, elected for 5 year term
- Elects the president;
- Stronger house - prepares and passes legislation (including the budget);
- Dominated by one party since 1994;
* Can override national council of provinces with 2/3 of support
Parliamentary elections
Apartheid = SMD/FPTP
Since 1994 list PR system
Vote for party, not person
No districts
No thresholds
Produces strong party discipline
* Lack of intra party democracy
Provinces of SA
9 powerful provinces with own constitutions
No federal state, central government can overturn legislation
2009, 2014 and 2019 DA wins elections in western cape province
Political parties ANC
Founded in 1912
Nonviolent movement for multiracial democracy
1950 alliance with SACP (communist party)
1960 foundation of Umkhonto we Sizwe (guerilla)
Ideology
* Marxism -> social democracy
* Racial equality
* Economic equality
* Since 1990s capitalism and liberalism
* Permanently in power since 1994
Democratic alliance
Successor of PFP
* Liberalism
* Centrism
* Multiracial democracy
* Anti-corruption
* Minority rights
EFF
Left wing split off from ANC youth wing
* Marxism/socialist
* Pan Africanism
* Economic redistribution
* Land reform
* Populism
inkatha freedom party
Rivalry with ANC, apartheid co-optation
Ideology
* Zulu minority rights
* Federalism, devolution
* Traditional leadership
* Conservatism
politically violent in 1990s-2000s
Dominant party system
One large party that dominates the others with a large majority
Discussion, majority of seats, vs hegemonic in gov?
Often seen in non-western/new democracies
- Not the same as authoritarian one-party state such as China
Democratic consequences of ANC dominance
Incumbency entrenchment
Ideological blurring
Clientelism, patronage and corruption
Careerism, party as power machine
Factionalism and fragmentation within party
Or authoritarian rule
Only in SA -> voter apathy and disillusionment
Declining participation
Declining partisanship
Reasons;
|—> Bad performance - unfulfilled promises/policy
implementation;
|—> Declining trust - scandals;
|—> Young/new voters are less partisan;
Positive: absence of sharp polarization
Zuma scandal 2005-?
1999 Mbeki establishes scorpions
2005-2008 Zuma corruption trial, rape trial
2008 Zuma replaces Mbeki, disbands scorpions
2012 Nkandla scandal
2017 Ramaphosa narrowly defeats Zuma’s wife
2018 18 charges of corruption, 700 counts of fraud against Zuma
June 2021 sentenced to 15 months jail
Ramaphosa “rampant corruption” proclaiming “new dawn” in his presidency
Transition to democracy
Opening
|—> Internationally, no anti-communist bulwark anymore;
|—> Internally, opening under Frederik de Klerk;
|—> 1990, Mandela freed from prison;
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Negotiations between Mandela (ANC) and De Klerk (NP)
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|—> Adoption of interim constitution (1993);
|—> First democratic elections (1994);
|—> Government of National Unity - ANC, NP, IFP (1994-1997);
XIII.Joining the Organisation of African Unity (AU predecessor);
XIV. Truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) established and adoption of new constitution ,
drafted by ANC and NP (1996);
XV. Joining the BRICS (2011);
Class cleavage
- Biggest levels of inequality in the world (highest Gini coefficient);
- 90-95% of assets owned by 10% of population;
- Overlapping/parallel cleavage with race;
Centre periphery cleavage
- Partial overlap with ethnic cleavage;
- Reinforced by strong provincial decentralisation;
- Claims for greater autonomy by IFP;
Religious cleavage
- Religious diversity;
- Less important than other cleavages;
President, head of state and head of government
- Elected from among National Assembly (parliamentarism);
- Depends on parliamentary majority;
- Stronger than typical prime minister, weaker than typical president;
- Selects and dismisses ministers;
Parliament - national council of provinces
- 90 members (10 per province);
- 6 permanent delegats;
- 4 special delegates (premier and 3 subject-specific nominees);
- Weaker house;
- Votes legislation affecting provinces;
- Can be overridden by 2/3 in NA;
Judiciary
- Branched judiciary with a mixed (common and civil) system;
- Constitutional court (11 members serving 12-year terms, appointed by president on
recommendation of judicial commission);
Local government
9 provinces (symmetric competences and strong legislative powers);
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Provincial competences:
1. Exclusive - provincial culture, roads, etc.
2. Concurrent (state framework) - education, health, etc.
3. State detains residual competences;
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Formally not a federal state, but fulfils federal criteria (sub-state entities detain legislative powers,
but the state is build as an union of entities and the upper house is weak and it has no explicit
constitutional recognition);
