One year on - SA’s political landscape reshaped by 2024 election

Thabo Shole-Mashao (in for 702's Clement Manyathela) is joined by political analyst, Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast and governance expert, Sandile Swana.

Listen below:

Thursday marked one year since South Africa’s 2024 general elections.

The date marked a pivotal moment in the country's history, ending, as it did, the African National Congress’s (ANC) post-apartheid dominance.

So too it signalled the beginning of a new chapter in coalition politics.

Swana says for many parties that now find themselves in frontline politics, the ANC dipping below 40% meant a lot of dreams were accelerated by several years.

"When you look at the Democratic Alliance dumping the Moonshot Pact, getting into cabinet straight away... it became immediately possible for the DA, even without the Moonshot Pact."

- Sandile Swana, Governance Expert

"There are people living a life that was probably 20 years away - the Patriotic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, GOOD Party, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Freedom Front Plus, UDM, Al-Jamah, Rise Mzansi... all of a sudden they are in the cabinet!"

- Sandile Swana, Governance Expert

Swana adds that one-party dominance has now become a thing of the past.

"It looks to me like coalition arrangements are the future," he says.

One of the biggest shocks to come out of the elections was the impressive performance of the new kid of the block, former President Jacob Zuma's MK Party.

It managed to finish third at the polls behind the ANC and the DA, and would go on to become the official opposition.

"The personality of Msholozi has played a massive role in terms of helping the party to garner votes."

- Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast, Political Analyst

"Whether we like it or not, the party has done very well."

- Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast, Political Analyst

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.