Rob Schotta
Developing Nations
Final paper
South Africa has overcome quite a lot over the course of the country’s history. Following the defeat of the Boers in the Anglo-Boer or South African war (1899-1902), the Union of South Africa was created as a dominion of the British Empires. The dominion came to an end on May 31st, 1961 as the consequence of a 1960 referendum, which legitimized the country becoming a sovereign state named Republic of South Africa. The country adopted a Republican constitution. From 1948-1994, South African politics were ruled by Afrikaner nationalists. Racial segregation and white minority rule also known as apartheid was created in 1948 under British rule. On April 27th, 1994 after decades of struggle, the African National Congress (ANC) achieved a victory in the country’s first democratic election in which all races could vote. In this paper my objective is to look at the democratization of South Africa. First looking at the Transplacement model that leaders such as Nelson Mandela used during the period of democratization. Secondly, I will look at the concept of reconciliation, and how the leaders of South Africa punished perpetrators post-apartheid. Finally, I will look into the problems that the country is still facing regarding democratization. Many leaders lead to the liberation of those oppressed during the apartheid regime. Nelson Mandela was one of the most influential leaders during pre and post-apartheid and it is important to acknowledge the achievements he made for the betterment of South Africa.
The Republic of South Africa is a parliamentary representative democratic Republic. The President of South Africa serves both as head of state and as head of government. The President is elected by the National assembly and must retain the confidence of the assembly in order remain in office. South Africans also elect provincial legislatures which govern each of the country’s nine provinces. Since the end of apartheid in 1994 the ANC has dominated South Africa’s politics. The main opponent to the ANC’s rule is the Democratic Alliance, led by Mmusi Maimane. Other major political parties represented in Parliament include the Economic Freedom fighters and the Inkatha Freedom party. In the South African government, Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of Parliament, the Council of Provinces and the National Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The government is three-tiered, with representatives elected at the national, provincial and local levels.
South Africa’s transition to democracy started through the 1993 Interim Constitution, drawn up through negotiations among various political parties, which lead to the country’s first non-racial election in 1994. All legally eligible South Africans were able to vote for the first time on April 27th, 1994. This marked the end of apartheid rule...
