Koalisiepolitiek in Suid-Afrika: Die kuns van die (on)moontlike?

Abstract

Coalition politics in South Africa: The art of the (im)possible? Recently conducted opinion polls on the support bases of political parties vary, but nevertheless emphasise significant decline in political support for the governing ANC, already ruling for 28 years. Since its peak of support in 1999 (at national level nearly 70% support, in other words a majority of more than two-thirds), a gradual decline in support for the ANC has been evident. In the municipal elections held in 2021 the ANC could mobilise only about 46% support across municipalities and provinces. Following this trend of gradual declining support, some of these polls indicate a decline in support for the ANC to as low as 37%, while others estimate it at 42%. Against the background of a rapidly changing political environment, driven by political, economic and social factors, the South African political scene reached a tipping point, with large demands arising with regard to, amongst other things, the consolidation of democratic values. The third decade of the democratic dispensation can be decisive for the