Part 5/10:
The end of apartheid in 1994 under the leadership of Nelson Mandela ushered in a new era with the ANC’s sweeping electoral victory. Since then, the ANC has maintained a dominant party system in South Africa. Nonetheless, the party has faced increasing scrutiny and criticism due to its handling of corruption scandals, especially during Jacob Zuma’s presidency, which culminated in violent protests following his imprisonment in 2021.
Despite the party's continued electoral success, particularly on a national level, mounting socio-economic issues—like rising crime rates and corruption—have severely impacted public trust. In 2021, South Africa was noted to have one of the highest homicide rates globally, a situation compounded by a lack of accountability among political leaders.