The Future of South Africa's Party System

The ruling African National Congress has been an overwhelming presence in the politics of post-apartheid South Africa. To date, the ANC government has enjoyed considerable success in satisfying its supporters' material expectations. As long as it continues to do so, it is reasonable to expect policy continuity. This may be long enough for the constitutionalism that at the moment may still be a matter of expediency for ANC leaders to become entrenched as a public and popular political value. Paradoxically, dominant-party politics may provide a protected space to nurture a more competitive system.