The chapter provides a detailed overview of the South African political situation, ranging from the composition of Parliament to international rankings of South African governance.
The chapter commences with a breakdown of party representation in Parliament. A breakdown of party representation is also given for each of the nine provincial legislatures.
Information is then given for party representation in local authorities. An analysis of by-election results since the last local government poll in 2006 is also provided. This allows readers to see the trend of how the African National Congress (ANC) is retaining much of its support, but has lost a significant number of by-elections. The official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), also managed to retain its support, as well as gain a number of municipal seats through by-elections.
The chapter also shows that there has been a significant increase in the number of women serving as members of Parliament or of provincial legislatures.
There is also information on the number of protests in South Africa, both violent and peaceful.
This is followed by an analysis of key trends in South African politics, ranging from corruption to foreign affairs to the activities of opposition parties.
The Institute’s own Rainbow Index is also provided, which is a scorecard of South African democracy. It shows that more vigilance is needed. The chapter concludes with international comparisons. These include the World Bank’s Governance Indicators, global rankings of freedom from Freedom House, and South Africa’s rating for press freedom from Reporters without Borders.
The chapter allows readers to gain a firm grasp of the current South African political environment.
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POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
POLITICS AT A GLANCE
Party representation
THE STATE OF PLAY IN 2010
Parliament
The National Assembly
The state of play in the National Assembly after the 2009 national election
Proportional representation and seats held by party after the 2009 national election
Representation in the National Assembly by party after the 2009 national election
The National Council of Provinces
Seats held in the National Council of Provinces after the 2009 provincial elections
Number of delegates to the National Council of Provinces after the 2009 provincial elections
Representation in the National Council of Provinces after the 2009 provincial elections
Provincial legislatures
The state of play in provincial legislatures following the 2009 provincial elections
Seats in provincial legislatures after the 2009 provincial elections
Overall representation in the nine provincial legislatures after the 2009 provincial elections
Local authorities
Party representation
Votes by party, 2006
Seats by party
Representation in the six metropolitan municipalities in 2009
By-elections
By-election results since the 2006 local government elections
Control of councils
Councils controlled by party, 2000–2009
Municipal audits
Municipal audit reports, 2007/08 and 2008/09
Results of the national election in selected municipalities, 2009
VOTING TRENDS
Voter turnout in national and provincial elections, 1994–2009
Voting trends
CHANGES IN PARTY REPRESENTATION 1994–2009
REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN
Female members of the National Assembly, 1994–2009
Female members of provincial legislatures, 1994–2009
Female members of local government councils, 2000–2006
POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL MATTERS
The ruling party
African National Congress (ANC)
The ANC Youth League
Governmental matters
The Cabinet
Foreign relations
Zimbabwe
Elections
Timing and coalitions
Opposition parties
Congress of the People (Cope)
Democratic Alliance (DA)
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)
Media
Proposed restrictions
New newspaper
Corruption and wastage
South African Airways (SAA)
Government
The Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (Cipro)
Race relations and xenophobia
Race relations
Xenophobia
Protests
‘Service delivery’ protests
Number of peaceful and violent gatherings, 2007–08 and 2008–09
THE RAINBOW INDEX
The Rainbow Index, 2009
INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS
World Bank Governance Indicators Report, 2008
Freedom in the world, 2010 (selected countries)
Press freedom in the world, 2009 (selected countries)