Justice Malala: How the ANC’s decline symbolises SA’s normalisation

In a dramatic twist, former President Jacob Zuma's relentless campaign has reshaped South Africa's political landscape, threatening the ruling ANC's dominance. His new uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (MK Party) has surged in popularity, especially in KwaZulu-Natal. As elections approach, South Africa faces unprecedented political complexity, with potential coalitions and a shift from liberation-era politics to a more competitive democracy. This pivotal moment, while fraught with uncertainty, heralds significant democratic evolution.

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By Justice Malala

Last Thursday, a television news crew made its way to former South African President Jacob Zuma's homestead, an ugly monstrosity controversially built at a cost of 250 million rand ($13.6 million) of taxpayers' money, in his rural village of Nkandla. The crew got to interview Zuma after midnight. At around 2 a.m., the crew watched in amazement as a genial Zuma, aged 82, welcomed a delegation of French diplomats into his living room for a meeting.

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