33 DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA : TWO DECADES AFTER APARTHEID

South Africa was under the apartheid rule for around fi fty years. Apartheid was formally established by the National Party when it came to power in 1948. In terms of the apartheid policy, the government belonged to the White people who enjoyed all human rights and were entitled to rule the country to the detriment of the Black people despite the latter constituting the overwhelming majority of the population. The apartheid regime eventually came to an end in the early 1990s. Following the ending of the dictatorial regime, a new Constitution was adopted and the fi rst democratic elections were held in South Africa. [T]his paper refl ects on the road that South Africans have gone from Apartheid to democracy and good political governance, on what they have achieved as well as the challenges and prospects for democratic governance in the country.


Introduction
Soutl~ Africa is a former British colony.It becanie independent in 1910 as the Unlon of South Africa.Apartheid was established by the National Party when it gets into power in 1948.Apartheid entrenched racial discrimination by reserving citize~~ship and rights to participate in government affairs for the White minority while the Black people who constitute the ovenvhehning majority of the population were denied most l~uman rights, including political rig1its.l and governance are 'complex" concepts.Definitions of 'democracy' are abundant, contentious, and very often vague.Finally, "Wl~at is Democracy* and "What is governance"?It is imperative that I be as precise as possible about these concepts and how they are understood in this paper, the dialectic existing between, a ~d their relationship.

Democracy
Ronen pointed out that "[dlef~ning democracy is a challenge"?Many scholars have spent their lifetimes teasing out the subtleties and nuances associated with democracy.
Denlocracy has come to be a catchall term and it is undoubtedly the most discussed and contested notion of politicaI theory.8Nwabueze pointed out that "[nlo word is more susceptible of a variety of tendentious interpretations than democracy"?Walter B. Oalhe, quoted by Gordon I. Schoehef, "fntroduction.Constltutirmalism, Liberalism, and the SStruly o f Politrcs", in ConstrtuNoml~srn, ed.R o h d I. Pennook and William J Chapman (New Yolk.New York Univeruty Press, 1979) 6.
According to Sono, Throughonw' history the ideal of democracy has been the mother of all mischieJ No concept has spawned such a multilude of devotees as democr"acy, however" contradicforily conceived; nor has one, in the aanals of political theory and conduct, been as disfigured, debased, and distorted as this one Socral scientists have tw2ted f h meaning of the concept, while t h ~ other brotherhood pmfssioml politiciaits and party hack, m&~ppresenfed the concept in practice to the degree that its expression has been p~"ofoundy, wholly andpeimanerttly cast in a dzyereni hue all too foreign to its basic meaning.
As Wiseman held, Many governments of quite dzyerent types wish to describe themselves as democratic.In some eases the tern has even been inco~porated inlo the oficial name of the sfate ... although it is a noticeable paradox flxat in most cases where this happened (e g. the German Demoeratic Republic, the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, or in Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo), the States concerned appear sign$cmtly undemocratic."Democraoy has acquired different, even contradictory meanings.
It has been suffering as much om its loyal partisans as from its opponents.Even its fierce enemies, dictators and authoritarian leaders, claim to be democrats and proclaim their faith in "democracy".There is a widespread agreement that de~nocracy is "a good thing".Everywhere in the world, the term "democratic" almost inevitably connotm praise, while "undemocratic"impIies censure.12Democracy is derived from two Greek words; namely demos and kratos meaning people and power or authority re~pedively.'~It entails that individuals should be free and equal in the determination of the conditions of their own lives.They should enjoy rights despite being subject to duties.DelnOCraCy is based on the belief that all people should have the same basic rights and freedoms and that people should be free to govern themselves.Democracy implies tha the people should have the final say with regard to how they are to be governed.Concepts such as rule of law, separation of powers and limited government are all factors contributing to the achievement of democracy.
Scholars have already spilled too much ink on the definition of democracy.Depending on the scope of democracy, two of its major conceptions may be identified, namely the minjlnalist and maxirnalist conceptions.These conceptions have been informed by the !mo dominant ideologies in the contemporary world, namely liberalismlcapitalism and socialistn/communism. Minimalist and maximalist conceptions of democracy are generally opposed in the scientific discourse." Whilst minimalist scholars define democracy as a process and a set of institutions and focus on political democracy, maxitnalist concepts concentsate on the substance and values of democracy, the most prominent among them being social equality, and socioeconomic rights.
In maximdists' view, democracy is essentially socia-economic and popular or socialist democracy.Theirs is a very broad definition " Wlseman 1996, 1-14; Richard L. of democracy that would include some or all of the desirable political, social, and economic characteristic of a "good ~ociety".'~ The specific form that democracy takes in any country is largely determined by prevailing political, social and economic circumstances and is influenced by historical, traditional and cultural factors.
Hence, democracy can also be direct or indirect.In a direct democracy, citizem vote on government decisions and make or reject laws for their communities.

Political Covername
Governance is not a new concept.Like democracy and many other social sciences concepts, the concept of "governance" is quite controversial.
The UNDP defines governance as "the exercise of economic political and administrative authority to manage a country's aEairs at all levels.'"VheWorld Bank defined governance "as the method through which power is exercised in the management of a counQy' s political, economic and social resources for de~eloprnent.organisations, the private sector and the public at large."Govemance means different things to different people and its definition differs depending to whether one follows a liberal or TOW approach.
In its liberal sense, governance can be applied to a wide range of issues, relationships and institutions involved in the process of managing public and private affairs.In this sense the term enlarges and better illustrates what governments should be focussing on.Governance can then be political, economic or corporate.
The concept of "governance" progressively gained currency under the structural adjustments programmes (SAPs) tbat were devised and imposed on underdeveloped countries by international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in the 1970s.Under the SAPs, "governance" was primarily economic and corporate governance.When it turned political, it was not necessarily to be democratic as the international community and Western developed countties still supported the "dictatomhips of development" in the Third World in general and in

Africa in particuld3
This also explained why apartheid in South Africa enjoyed for decades the support by some of the most powerful actors of the international community, including three out of the five veto holders in the United Nations Security Council; namely France, the United Kingdom and the United States ofAmerica.
With the failure of "dictatorships of development" and the intensification of democratic struggles in the 1 9 8 0 ~~ there was a shift from authoritarian and bad governance to democratic and good govemance.Good political governance had to be democratic governance and related to respect for hmnan rights, including peoples' right to developmenf wluch was already enshrined in the African Charter for Human and Peoples" Rights that African leaders within the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) -now the African Union (AU) -adopted during their summit held in Nairobi in June 1981.The African Charter finally came into force in October 1986 and it also aims at promoting good political govemance which is closely related to democracy.

Relafionship Bdween Demcracy and Governance
According to Safieddine and Atwi, democratic societies should be defined by the adoption of political practices such as public debate, freedom of speech, elections, representation, transparency and accountability as well as consensus building and active decision making." Democracy is fundamentally rooted in the proposition that political autllority is anchored in the will of the people.
Similarly, democratic govemance implies governance based on fundamental and universally accepted principles including accountability, participation, transparency, separation of powers, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.2S In the African and South African context following decades of colonial and neo-colonial authoritaria~Gsm and apartheid mismanagement, there is a close elationsh ship between democracy and good political governance.This is stressed in Inany African instruments.For instance, the Constitutive Act of the African Uiuon (Article 3 (g)) provides that its objectives are iafer alia to "promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance".
Respect for democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law and good governance is also one of the basic principles of the A h c a n Union Wrticle 4 (in) African Union Constitutive Act).In The government should be legitimate.It should be based on their explicit consent as expressed during free and fair elections that help them chose those who should govern on their behalf and remain accountable to them in the exercise bf their mandate.Without promotion of, respect for and a culture of human rights, there is no possibility for democracy.The struggle against apartheid in South Africa finally amounted to the struggle for den~ocracy and good political governance.

Surrth Africa's Struggle for Democracy and Good Political Governance
The history of the struggle for democracy and good political governance in South Africacm be divided into thee periods; namely the period from colonialis~n to apartheid, the transitional period and the period post-apartheid.based on colour and the enfranchisement of and parliamentary representation for blacks.Despite these efforts the government continued lo pass laws limiting the rights and freedoms of blacks.38South Africa's apartbeid era began in 1948, when the National party @P) won the all-white elections and began passing legislation codifying and enforcing an even stricter policy of white domination and racial separation".39 The Afrikaans word "apartheid" literally means "separation" or "apartness".In English, it came to mean any legally sanctioned system of ethnic segregation The word "apartheid" was used by the National Party to protect the interests of the Whites in general and Afrikaners in particular.However, it innst be pointed out t h t tht: Afrikaner nationalists did not invent apartbeid.It was actually pioneered by the British colonial governments of Natal and the Cape long before the National Party m e to power in 1948 and made it a national p o l i ~y .~ Under the apartheid regime, Blacks were not represented within the political system.They were incorporated under their traditional leadership within areas they had been restricted to in the process of conquest.A Aood of laws enacted to formally institute the dominance of white people over other races followed the coming of the National Party to power in 1948.41The apartheid regime denied many humanrigl~ts to the overwhelming majority ofAfrican people, especially their civil and political righhu Under apartheid, the Black people were considered human beings of the second zone, just close to animals, They were not citizens, but subjects.
In 1961, tbe Republic of South Africa was proclaimed and a constitution was adopted.a2The apartheid government enforced the principle of parliamentary sovereignty.Parliament had sovereign j8 Bend= 1992,6.

Idem.
" Fundamental rights such as the right to kedom of associatio% frcedom of assenlbly, the right to fmm~ and join politioal paties of own cl~oiee iu~d io padic~pate in the activities of such political par@ Bladrsuvre not even allawed to vote.The government created homelands nnd hlaoks had to have pass .
" Act 32 of 1961.legislative authority and had full powers to make the laws4) Thus, no court of law had tbe authority to proilounce upon the validity of any Act passed by the parliament.The apartheid regirne continued unabated but had now to face opposition from the black people organised to coinbatit inanumber ofpolitical andsocial associations, prominently the ANC.
In 1983, South Africa had a new Constitution (Act 110 of 1983).Like its predecessors, the 1983 Constitution entrenched and enforced racial discrimination and classification, which was at the heart of apartheid.It maintained the exclusion of black majority outside of State politics as they were denied any political rights and the Cabinet comprised of non-white (coloured) member only.
However, from the beginning, the apartheid regime had to face challenges coming from the international comuclity especially &er the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, since it was based on the denial of virtually all-civil and political rights to the black people who constitute the overwl~elmimg majority of the population in South Africa.However, it was still supported by some of the most powerful Ubited Nations member states with the veto right in the Security C o u n ~i l .~ International challenges against apartheid intensified as more and more states in Asia, South America and the rest of Africa gained their independence and becane members of the United Nations.
International and domestic challenges against apartheid reached their climax in the late 1980s.The apartheid or white regime faced a tremendous dilemma: leform or perish.It chose tbe latter, all political prisoners were released, includii Nelson Mandela a prominent politician, by un-banning all antiapartheid organisations were unbanned and embarking on a negotiation process.

Kempton Park Negotioiions and South Africa % Transition from Apmjheid to Democracy ared Good Political Gavernance
In 1989, FW De Klerk succeeded PW Botha as the president of Soufi Africa Soon after assuming office* FW De KIerk met with prominent black leaders and ordered the release of many political " See sectloll 59 (1) ofAct 32 of 1961.
'Vrance, the United Kingdnm and the United States ofAmerica prisoners.In February 1990, he ordered the release of Nelson Mandela who had been ilnprisoned for 27 years.Subsequently, negotiations began in Ke~npton Park regarding the transition from apartheid govemnent to a democratic South Africa that would be based on equality, human dignity and fundamental freedoms.Delegations from 19 governmental and poiitical organisafions took pact in these negotiations.These negotiations came to standstill when Chris Hani was zssasslnated on the loa1 of April 1993.Hani w a the leader of the South African Coinmunist Party, which is in a tripartite alliance with the ANC and Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).
Propitiously, Nelson Mandela addressed the South African nation and restored peace in South Africa Althwgh the negotiations were suspended for several times due to violence, finally they ended with the adoption of a draft interim constitution containing a Bill of Rights enshrining the rights of all the people in the count~y.

The Post-Apartheid Constitcrfional Order
The draft interim constitution adopted during the Kempton Park negotiations on 22 December 1993 was tabled before the apartheid psfiament which enacted it into law.This Constitution, which was a transitional constitution, entered into force on 27 April 1994.One of its major objectives was to provide for an interim gpvernment and set out the procedures for the negotiation and drafting of a "final" Constitution.
Elections were held in 1994.The ANC won these elections and Nelson Mandela became the &st democratically elected President of the Republic of South Africa. of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice, and fundamenral hu~natl rights" and to "lay the foundations for a democratic and open society" (Preamble to the 1996 Constitution).This constitution provides that South Africa is a "democratic state" (Section 1 (d) read with Preamble, Sections 2, 7 (1) and 195 (1) of the 1996 Constitution) founded on "democratic vdues'' includinp human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancemcnl af human rights and freedoms, non-racialism and non-sexism and the "supremacy of &c Constitution" and the rule of law (Section 1 of 1996 Constitution).
The 1996 Constitution contains one of the world most progressive Bills of Rights, including social, economic, political and cnltural rights.The separation of powers between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary is entrenched to avoid any return to authoritarianism like under apartheid.A number of institutions were also established to support democracy andgood political governance.

Elections
Free and fair electiolls are an important facet of denlocracy, constitutionalism and good governance.As mentioned earlier, the first South African democratic general elections were held on 27 April 1994.For the first time all South African citizens were entitled to cast their votes fieely and without any f3ar.When the elections results were announced on 6 May 1994, ti1ehNC fails to secure Lwo thirds majority, and they had secured 62.6% votes.Thus, the A?4C is not able to amend the Constitution witl~out negotiating with other parties.These elections were also pronounced as free and fair by the international, regional as well as foreign observers.The election results marked the end of apartheid and the beginning of democracy and constitutionalism in South Africa.
In line with the 1996 Constitution, on 9 May 1994, the National Assembly was convened in Cape Town and unanimously elected Nelson NIandela as the first democratically elected president of the Republic of South Africa.President Mandelagoverned for a term of five years.At the end of his term, one of his deputy presidents, Mr Thabo Mbeki, took over as the president ofthe ANC and the country until September 2008 when he was recalled from presidency by the ANC.Mr Kgalema Motlante was then appointed interim president until new elections were held.The conduct of the 2008 elections were free and fair too.Once againtheANC wonthwe elections and the National Assembly elected Jacob Zuma as the new country's president.His term is to end in 2013, but it is ranewable if he is reelected.Provincial and local elections have also been regularly held in South Africa since 1994.Until now, South Africa provides one of the lest practices when it come to election in the continent with regard to the organisation of regular, free and fair elections.

Rule ofLao andlndependence of fhe Judicby
Democracy and good political governance also require respect for the rnle of law and independence of the judiciary.The rule of law implies that the law reigns supreme and no one is above the law.Respect for the rule of law can be secured when there is an independent judiciary.
The 1996 Constitution provides that the judicial authority of the Republic is vested in the courts."Courts are also independent and impartial, subject only to the Constitution and the rule of law, which they must apply withouT feat, favour or prejudice.The Constitution expressly provided that 'no person or organ of state may interfere with the functioning of the c ~u r t s .' ~ The Judiciary is the guardian and watchdog ofthe Constitution.The highest court in constitutional matters is the Constitutional Court that has jurisdiction in all constitutional matters.Since the end of apartheid, the judiciary has played a crucial role in ensuring respect for the rule of law and in protecting and promoting human rights despite the threats that the Courts has to deal ~i t h .4 ~ The 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa contains a Bill of Rights which is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa.The Bill ofrights enshrines the rights of all peopIe in the country and affinns democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom50 Human dignity, equality and freedoms are the founding values of the South African C~nstitution.~' The South African Bill of Rights protects all the three "generations" of rights; namely civil and political rights as well as social, economic rights, and cultural rights.It protects both individual and collective 1ights.
The Constitutional Court bas played a crucial role in enforcing these rights as can be demonstrated by its remarkable case law which has inspired inany other courts and hwnan institutions in the world.It is worth highlighting two land mark judgments related to the prolnotion of civil and political rights on the one hand and socioeconolnic rights on the other hand.These judgments, which are the jewels of the In Groutboom, the Constitutional Court had to co~sider the IegaIity of the conduct oftlre local authority-in evicting a group of squatters who had moved onto private land that had been earmarked for low-cost housing.A Magistrate's court had ordered the squatters to vacate the land on a certain date ot face eviction.
However, the eviction under the control of the municipali& took place a day early and in circumstances which saw the squatters' homes demolished, their building materials and their possessions deliberately destroyed.The Constitutional court found that the government measures to provide housing were inadequate, since no provision was made for temporary shelter for homeless people.This omission was found to be unreasonable since it ignored those most in need."The c o w held that this was a violaiio~i of the negative obligation in section 26(1).5$ The Bill of Rights also provides for popular participation in the process of governance by guaranteeing the right to access to information.The state must respect, protect, proinote and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights (Section 7 (2) of the 1996 Constitution).However, the rights guaranteed are subject to limitations and the limitation should comply with the provisions uf section 36 of the Constitution.However, the APRM Report on South Africai6 stressed a number of challenges that South Africa need to ovefcome to consolidate democracy and good political governance.These challenges relate to the independence ofthe judiciary, which has been more than once under attack h m some quarters of the ruling party; respect for human rights, including social and econolnic rights and the rights of the refugees and migrants; poverty that affects the majority of the population, especially the black people; corruption which is rampant in the public spbere, and crime.
The South African govemnent responded that it was aware of the challenges and undertook to improve the quality of democracy and governance in the country.Based on the political will that exists, a vibrant civil society and the rising public awareness, the prospects for democracy and good political governance are very promising and better than in many African countries.However, incessant efforts should be made to ensure that democracy is consolidated to avoid any return to authoritarian pule that characterised the apartheid South Africa.

Bibliography
See ManguAMB, The Road to Const~tutionalirm and Demoway Post-Colonial Afi~ca.The Case of the Demomatlc Republic of Congo (2002) UNISA at p48.
The 1996 Constitution (Act 108 of 1996) was passed and superseded the interim constitution.The new Constxtution was promulgated by Nelson Mandela at Sharpeville on 10 December 1996 and came into effect on 4 February 1997.The aim of the 1996 Constitution as certified by the Constitutional Court45 was to "heal the divisions '' See Cerh&atronofthe Constitution offhe Repubhc ofSuutbAfi,ca 1996 1996 (10) BCLR 1253 (CC)> which failed, and C d ~c a t i o n of tlw Amended R x t of the Consrihltion of the Republrc of South Afi'ma 1996 1997 (1) BCLR 1 (CC), in terms afuihich the 1996 Constitubon was eventually cefied as c o n f o w The institutions stipulated in Chapter 9 of the 1996 Constitution are the Public Protector, Human Rights Commission, the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Rights of Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Communities, the Commission for Gender Equality, the Auditor General and the Independent Electoral Commission.All these institutions are independent from the state.They are subject to the Constitution and the law only.At the same time, they have to act impartially and exercise their powers and perform tbeir functions without any fear, favour or prejudice.*Democracy and Good Political Governance in Post-Apartheid South Africa: A Balance Shed An assessment of democracy and good political governance h postapartheid South Africa may be based on elections, respect for the ~u l e of law, independence of the judiciary and the protection and promotion of the rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights and other human rights instments binding on the Republic.to the ConstiMona1 Principles provsded m Schedule 4 of the Constitutio%~ of the Repubhc of South bfnca Act No 200 of 1993, acaordmg to Section 71 oE the same Conshtutlon

"
Go~.ernment of tlae Remblrc ~f S o u t h Aflico v Gmotboom 2002 (11) BCLR 1169 (CC).IL Goverrwlenl o f l h R e y a i c of South A~PZUI v Gmotboom paragrap11 44 Ibfd.pmagraph 88.Conclusion Since independence in 1912 and the establislunent of apartheid in 1948, South Africa has ~nade tremendous progress on the mad to democracy and good political governance.South Africa has become by all standards one of the shining examples and employ best practices of democracy and good political governance on the African continent.

Soutlz Africa from Colonisation io Aparflzeid: Historical und Political Background
It is worth considering the historical and political background of South Africa in order to understand the origins and to highlight the scope and i~nportance of the developments that have taken place as well as the curretit state of affairs in South Africa.As Bendix pointed out, "history plays an important role in the shaping of individual attitudes and societal norms and institutions"?oAccording to Cardozo, "history in illuminating the past illuminates the present, and in illuminating the present, illuminates the future.'"'In Elias's words, "worthwhile study of the problem of government and politics of Africa must necessarily take account of its past forms of political, social and cultural organ is at ion^."^^In South Afiica, colonisation started during the 16* century, when the Dutch East India Company established a provisioning station at the Cape around 1652?3 " C l d o f I 1 W and Magnus Killmder, Compendium oJ Ke? f f m u n Rzghls Docurnersls (Sauth Afiica.Pretoria University Law Press, 2006) 293-298." African Peer Review MeEhanisin Dooument adopted at the 6#' summit of the NEPAD Heads of State and Govenuner~t I~nplementation Committee in Ahla, Nigena, March 2003.Benjmllll N. Cardnzo, The Naterre of the Jud~ccal P~ncess (New Haven: Yale Uiiivetsity P~ess, 1921) 53 See also Budeli M, Fr&m of Assocrution and Trade U

ofAssonation and Dude Unroncsn? m SA From Ap~ltheuf to the Den~ocrafrc Conrtiarfrond Or&. Sauth Afticr
University of CapeTown, 2007 at 106-150; Charles W Stahl, "Migrant Labour Supplies, Past, Present and Future with Spala1 Rcfermce to the Gold-Mming Industry." in French Huguenot refugees, the Dutch, and Gennans also began to settle in the Cape.Collectively, they formedthe Afrikaner segment ofthe population.By 1779, European settlements extended throughout the Southern part of the Cape.The Blitish gained control of the Cape of Good Hope at the end of the 18" century.British settlement and rule marked the beginning of a long confict between the Afrikaners and the English?' In 1852 and 1854, the independent Boer Republics of the.Transvaal and Orange Free State were created.Relations between these Republics and the British were strained.36Britishforces prevailed during the Anglo-Boer wars of 1880-8 1 and 1899-1902 and the Boer Republics were incorporated into the British Empire.In May 1910, the two Republics and the British colonies of the Cape and Natal formed the Union of South Africa, a self-governing dominion of the British E~~rpire.The Union's Constitution kept all political power in the hands of the WI~ites.~~In 1912, the SouthAfricanNative National Congress was founded in Bloemfontein and eventually hecane known as themican National Congress (ANC).Its goals were the elimination of restrictions " See Brassey 1998, A1. 14, Eddte Wehstet, Ff'

Amendment) Act 24 of I930 and Labour Relations Act28 of 1956.
Currently there has beet, a debate within the luliig party proposing the review ofthe powers of the Conshtut~onal cowl due to the court's comments on same ofthe policies.African human rights jurisprudence, are S v Makwanymes3 and Government of the Republic of South Aflica v Grootbaonz."In the Makwmyane case, the Constitutional Court championed the rights to life and human dignity and ruled on the unconstitutionality of the death penalty under the Interim Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, However, Gmolboonz remains the most important case with regard to the promotion of ~ocioeco~~otnic rights, especially tile right to access to housing, health care, water and social security. South African Peer Review Mechanism (APM), South Afifca Country Review Report, 2009.B e c h a n Bjiirn, "Whose Delnoc~acy?Bourgeois versus Popular Democracy.''Review ofAfiican Political Economy (1989): Bendix, Sonia.Industrial Relations in South Africa.South Africa: Juta and Co~npany Ltd, 1992.AGioan Peer Review M e c h South Africa Counhy Review Report, 2009