What is the fate of the ANC? A Critical Analysis of the Party’s Demise in South Africas 2024 General Elections

Abstract

This article problematises the fate of the African National Congress in South Africa in relation to the country's 2024 general elections. The authors critically analyse the party's demise following its dominance in SA politics and its ongoing decline in the last decade. In doing so, the authors consider both the internal and external challenges of the party and unpack whether the decline of the party, which has been in power for almost three decades, is because of favouritism for another political party or a demand for alternative policies. The article is a desktop study that relies entirely on secondary sources. The authors made use of thematic analysis in its broadest form. Among the findings of this article is that the ongoing decline of the ANC should not be regarded as a preference by the electorate for an alternative party and that the decreasing voter turnout and voter apathy must be alarming to the state of voter behaviour in the country entirely. The authors further suggest that opposition parties must prioritise engaging and showcasing themselves as the envisaged alternative that will bring the interest of the people of South Africa to the fore.