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The State of the Nation: Civil Unrest in South Africa

South Africa has seen a wave of recent unrest which demonstrates a renewed desire to revitalise the country's transformation from apartheid amid the perceived failings of the current government. Gabrielle Reid argues that the ruling administration is likely to ride the wave unchanged.
South Africa is no stranger to public protests. However, the country has experienced a wave of recent unrest since mid-2015, driven by ongoing student campaigns, opposition-led demonstrations against the incumbent government and continued protests against service delivery failures. While an active electorate taking to the streets to keep its government in check brings a certain vivacity to any country, the issues at hand have raised new concerns over the state of this 22-year old democracy. Ahead of impending local elections expected in 2016, despite no final date set, renewed unrest seems to mark a turning point in South Africa particularly as cross-cutting issues of growing dissatisfaction with government performance have the potential to unify these fleeting movements. At present however, the social and economic divides remain both a cause of current grievances and a potential inhibitor to mass mobilisation. 

The latest wave of unrest commenced in the first half of 2015, with the launch of the #RhodesMustFall campaign calling for greater transformation on university campuses across the country. Thereafter, in October 2015, students again took to campus grounds to demonstrate against an announcement of fee increases at tertiary institutions. Associated #FeesMustFall campaigns budded across the country, with near daily protests held at the University of Cape Town, Western Cape, and Witwatersrand, among others. These campaigns gained significant momentum when on 21 October 2015, students breached the perimeter of parliament’s buildings in Cape Town. In light of President Jacob Zuma’s November 2015 announcement that there would be no fee increases for 2016 and the close of the academic year, demonstrations were brought to an end, although they temporarily revived this year. Nevertheless, while further protests are expected throughout 2016, the transient nature of these movements hinders the capabilities of students to significantly challenge the government. 
President Jacob Zuma

Zuma’s perceived failure to address ongoing allegations of corruption and political mismanagement, particularly following the controversial decision to remove Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene in December 2015, has also resulted in various social media campaigns targeting the president. The ensuing #ZumaMustFall campaign led to an anti-government demonstration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria in December 2015, and has since been taken up by opposition parties keen to capitalise on the hashtag ahead of local elections this year. However, the campaign has ultimately proven ineffective in drumming up support within the African National Congress (ANC) to recall Zuma as well as prompting demonstrations by disillusioned ANC supporters. Protests have largely been concentrated among the opposition, which holds little sway in effecting leadership change in the country. 

The campaign has ultimately proven ineffective in drumming up support within the African National Congress (ANC) to recall Zuma.

Lastly, 2016 has not been without the frequent service delivery protests in informal settlements and low-income areas seen in recent years. Protests, characterised by burning debris and property damage have been reported in low income area across the country since January. These protests are largely driven by socio-economic grievances over limited housing, utility provision and insufficient policing, among numerous other concerns. In a November 2015 survey by the Africa-focused think tank, Afrobarometer, it was revealed that 80 percent of the populace feel the government is performing badly, particularly with regard to addressing unemployment, housing, crime, and low education levels in the country. As such, the ANC is facing its lowest support levels since first coming to power in 1994. The party is keen to counteract inroads made by the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the growing Economic Freedom Fighters in traditional ANC support bases in the local elections. As such, the ANC is likely to look to placate municipalities with promises of revitalised service delivery ahead of elections which will lead to a temporary lull in unrest. Moreover, while further protests are likely, the ANC’s apartheid struggle legacy ultimately continues to resonate in the hearts and minds of many South Africans, dampening the potential for protests movements to become widespread. 

There is potential for these various protests to produce a unified campaign against the government, as they represent a desire to revitalise South Africa’s transformation amid a sense of political solidarity. However, an impending uprising is a long way off. At present, the student protests remain confined to campuses while aggrieved residents in low-income areas will be tied to election campaign promises in the coming months. Furthermore, the #ZumaMustFall campaign has been hijacked by rival political parties vying to replace a wounded ANC, evoking criticisms from a citizenry still committed to the ANC’s legacy. With protests already an entrenched part of South African society, the latest campaigns, while novel, are unlikely to amalgamate. Rather, in light of the upcoming local elections, an ailing ANC will have a new platform on which to make new promises without a unified society holding it to account.

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