This election forces us to do what should have been done in 1994 – Academic

Clarence Ford speaks with Dr Harlan Cloete, Research fellow at the University of the Free State and Academic Prof Anele Hammond who called in from Switzerland.

Listen to the interview in the audio below.

The election results so far show the ANC sitting in the low 40s, possibly losing its 50% majority for the first time in 30 years.

This means no political party will have an outright majority and parties will have to work together to form coalitions.

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Hammond believes these results align with what should have happened in 1994.

She believes that it was a mistake back then to give all of the power to a single party that did not have the experience to run a country.

“They have proven that in 30 years, because they have messed up the country completely.”

– Prof Anele Hammond, Academic

“I grew up in apartheid, but I have never lived in a tin house. When you come here today half of black people are living in tin houses. Things have progressively gotten worse.”

– Prof Anele Hammond, Academic

She says that what we should see now is all opposition parties banding together, and holding each other accountable, to governing together.

“What South Africa needs to do is humble itself and start compromising.”

– Prof Anele Hammond, Academic

Cloete says the ANC has not failed outright but there has been a lack of accountable leaders in the last 15 years.

Moving forward, he says we will definitely see different dynamics in national government.

He adds that we will need to do a lot of work in the country to bridge the gaps of inequality and have a well-functioning participatory democracy.

“We are entering into a new era of politics in South Africa.” 

- Dr Harlan Cloete, Research fellow at the University of the Free State

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.