Radicalism in contemporary South African political thought, as exemplified in selected political party rhetoric (1994-2021)

Abstract

South Africa has been a democracy for nearly three decades. During the past 28 years, the Republic of South Africa has been the subject of a constant process of political, economic and social change, as it is increasingly shaped by the governing ideas flowing from the wellspring of thought that informs the governing party and its allies in government. While many discussions took place at the highest possible level before the first democratic election took place, it was with the election of Nelson Mandela as the president of South Africa that a new political order was born. When Mandela became president in 1994, his message was one of peace, dignity, and respect for all those who called South Africa their home (Evans, 2017)