The 2009 South African elections: Implications for the provinces
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Heydenrych, Pieter Willem
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Published by the Department of History, University of the Free State
Abstract
The 2009 South African elections were somewhat different in terms of the positioning of the ruling party
and the nature of the opposition. Against this background the meaning and implications (democratic
meaningfulness) of the elections in the provincial context are considered. Firstly the outcome of the
elections is placed in the context of the continuing uncertainty of the provincial sphere of government
as part of the structure of the state and secondly the elections results are interpreted in terms of what is
labelled parties of significance. The article demonstrates that from a historical perspective the importance
of government has opened up the debate on the future of the provinces. Even the limited substantial choice
of political parties resulting in ANC dominance has contributed to the questioning of the importance of
provinces, apart from institutional meaning or effectiveness. The 2009 election results however could
be indicative of a shift towards a wider ideological choice with a reasonable expectation of government
control. The potential developments based on the election results could thus through the widening of
choice, reinvigorate the provincial sphere of government with the added caveat: if it were in time to
reverse the centralisation of the South African state order.
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Citation
Heydenrych, P.W. 2010. The 2009 South African elections: Implications for the provinces. Journal for contemporary history = Joernaal vir eietydse geskiedenis, 35(3):112-129. [http://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/journals.aspx?journal=13]