South Africa: Economics above politics

By Dakuku Peterside

South Africans voted in national and local elections on May 29, exactly one year after Nigeria inaugurated its current president. Since 1994, this election has been the most significant post-apartheid election and the most unpredictable in the country’s 30 years of democratic rule. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliament majority for the first time, possibly paving the way for the country’s first coalition government.

With voter discontent, leading opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and newcomer UmKhonto we Sizwe (MK), put pressure on the ANC through uninterrupted mass campaigns and countrywide rallies, promising sweeping reforms in hopes of swaying most registered voters to their side. Unlike in most parts of Nigeria, the elections proceeded smoothly, without violence, ballot snatching, or shootings. South Africans demonstrated discipline and respect for the law. This notwithstanding, the stakes were high, and the ANC’s historical advantage was sidestepped. This election significantly shakes the existing political order and deepens democracy in South Africa.

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Economic concerns had a massive impact on the election’s result. South Africans shifted their focus from “freedom-centric politics” to “economy-centric politics.” Under the ANC administration, South Africa has had to deal with a high unemployment rate, the highest murder rate in 20 years, and pervasive corruption. Their economic concerns include a lower GDP per person than in 2008, and the state is becoming less effective. A case in point: in 1997, South Africa ranked 47th of 123 countries in the Economic Freedom Index, a ranking by the Fraser Institute, a Canadian think-tank, based on the size of the public sector and the extent of regulation, but by 2021 it had slipped to 94th, just ahead of Nicaragua; national debt as a share of GDP has more than tripled, from 24 percent in 2008 to 75 percent; a staggering unemployment rate of 33 percent with above 40 percent employment among youths and black people; massive infrastructural decay and deficiency. Last year, Eskom, the state-run power company with a generation capacity of 44,175 MW, way above Nigeria’s 4,000 MW, had to schedule a record number of blackouts because its generation fell so far short of demand, and customers lost almost 40 percent of piped water before it reaches customers. The railway system is dysfunctional.

These issues played on the minds of many of the voters, who are predominantly young and black people and are a bit distanced from the Apartheid politics of freedom and liberation that helped the ANC dominate the political space in South Africa. Although the ANC won most parliamentary seats, it increasingly requires forming a coalition government because it is not gaining the dominance of yesteryear in the political space. Their mismanagement of the economy and the high level of crime and corruption in the system have forced some party loyalists to move to other smaller parties, and voters are increasingly demanding a change. Although we may still have the ANC in power, their dominance has eroded, and their power and authority are challenged. The more the generation that saw apartheid and is sentimentally attached to the ANC as the freedom party fades away, the more the ANC must rely on young voters who will vote based on the vagaries of the economy. Many young people interviewed after the elections pointed to economic reasons as the most crucial consideration in voting for candidates and parties.

This is a new trend across Africa. In most African democracies, especially those with a high young population, the foremost considerations in the voting pattern are shifting from traditional religious, ethnic, or tribal considerations steeped in the country’s history to economic reasons. What can we learn from the seismic shift in the SA political landscape?

The first implication is that Africans, especially young Africans, have started to expect and demand good economic development from their governments. This is a welcome development for the deepening of democracy in Africa. Young Africans are harshly affected by poor economic management by governments, and they have started to mobilise and understand that politics defines the economy because the people who handle the economy are elected to office by them. Although this is at an early stage, we hope it continues and takes root in our politics. The only negative aspect of this is the level of political apathy among the youth.

The second implication is that the more the economy becomes the centre stage of political rhetoric and discussion, the more efficient management of the economy becomes the dominant political agenda. This is good for African politics. African nations need better economic managers now more than at any other time in their history. With a booming young population, substantial natural resources, and an emerging educated and skilled workforce in science, technology, and the arts, Africans are poised to bring about sustainable economic development across the continent.

Read also: Ramaphosa ANC takes early lead in South Africa election

The new politics of pro-economic growth is the only hope for Africa if it must get it right and leverage its great potential, especially its youthful population, to harness the greatness of its strengths. Here lies the paradox. These strengths and potentials are time bombs that, unless adequately managed by democratically elected leaders who are savvy in the economy, the crisis and doom it will turn to will shock Africa. The evidence of this is the level of increase in crime and insecurity in many African countries.

The mix of economics and politics is the new order, and every serious party of any African nation must take note of this and reshape the vision accordingly. It spells doom when party leaders like Mr. Ramaphosa repeatedly prioritise the interests of his party over those of the country. The ANC has paid a hefty price for this mistake, and we hope they and other big parties across Africa will learn from it. Leave the economy at your peril. Young people are looking for answers to Africa’s many problems, especially economic problems. They need solutions, not the identification of problems. Everywhere in Africa, economics determines politics.

South Africa has gone to the polls, and Nigeria must learn many lessons from them. First, the elections were free, fair, and well-organised, with citizens disciplined. Even when there were minor hitches, it did not undermine the integrity of the electoral process. In contrast, elections in Nigeria are always overwhelmingly the opposite. The elections are not primarily free and fair because of many irregularities, which are too many to elucidate here. During elections, some Nigerians are lawless, undisciplined, and unpatriotic. In the words of Basil Odilim, “No nation has ever achieved development with citizens who are undisciplined, lawless, and unpatriotic. Consequently, Nigeria’s economic journey is on the road to nowhere.” We must put our economic journey on the road somewhere. A patriotic, disciplined, and creative mindset is needed for economic growth. The best way to show patriotism is by participating in the electoral process and electing leaders who will manage our economy well and prioritise productivity over consumption and corruption. The election is the first step to getting good leaders in Africa.

Every South African voter was concerned about a cocktail of widespread corruption, a high unemployment rate, electricity failure, and stifled economic growth. Nigeria’s democracy will focus more on economics and quality of life than on trivial matters as we cross the 25th anniversary of democracy and more young people join the political process. South African voters were concerned about the same issues we are dealing with in Nigeria. This speaks to Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” proverb about an old woman being uneasy whenever dry bones are mentioned. The government’s inability to address economic issues and raise the standard of living for many South Africans was blamed on the ANC’s diminishing support.

Failing to tackle the myriad economic problems that the majority faces is a call for political realignment. Just like in South Africa, young people must learn to use the election tool as the power to reshape their country and their future.