Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
11 November 2026 | 11:34 CAT
3-minute read

Following the 4 November local government elections, African National Congress President and South African Head of State Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the party’s severe electoral setback, stating that the party accepts the voters’ verdict with humility.

Analysts have commended the ANC, saying the liberation movement has accepted defeat remarkably well, particularly when compared to nations across the African continent.

Speaking to Radio Islam International during this week’s Africa Report, human rights and governance consultant Ayesha Kajee said the ANC’s acceptance of defeat and transfer of power marks an important milestone in the nation’s democratic journey.

“The transfer of power from a ruling party that was a liberation movement is an important step in the maturing of a democracy, even though many in South Africa, for example, will say there perhaps isn’t a viable alternative,” Kajee observed.

Many countries in Africa have deeply entrenched ruling parties that do not easily relinquish power even after decisive electoral defeats. Kajee cited the EIU Democracy Index, which classifies Mauritius as Africa’s only full democracy. Other countries, including South Africa, Ghana, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana and Cape Verde, are classified as flawed democracies according to the study. Other African countries are classified as either hybrid or authoritarian regimes.

However, Kajee cautioned against measuring democracy solely through elections. A resilient democracy also requires the systemic and institutional backup of democracy to prevent power from concentrating in a single person or group.

Despite having strong constitutions that protect citizens’ fundamental rights, many of the continent’s governments ignore these frameworks to stay in power.

“One of our hugest strengths in South Africa…is the presence of a very, very democratic constitution that respects and upholds and guarantees the basic human rights of all citizens,” Kajee said. “The fact that those constitutions then are flouted by incumbent governments or governments that don’t want to give up power is where the problem lies.”

Kajee recommends a move towards “social democracy”, which is in line with Africa’s cultural and historical tradition of communal democracy that predates the imposition of Western democracy – one that emphasises individual instead of community rights.

“I do believe that if we [South Africa] had stronger parties contesting from a social justice and social democracy viewpoint, we might actually find that there is a more sustained level of democracy, less corruption, and less of the fractures that so often happen within the political party system,” Kajee said.

Kajee said Zambia is a prime example where principles of a liberal Western democracy have been strengthened, particularly around President Hakainde Hichilema, who was sworn in for another term after a disputed election.

Months before the August 2026 Zambia election, intense political allegations that President Hichilema’s administration was manipulating state institutions to weaken rivals ahead of the polls were laid against the leader. According to reports, President Edgar Lungu’s disqualification and death in June 2025 fuelled these allegations.

“The institutions supporting democracy and ensuring the independence of, for example, the parliament from the courts has been shrunk,” Kajee said.

The aftermath of President Hichilema’s victory has been marked by court closures, treason charges against opposition leaders and a fatal security raid.

Police sealed off the courts on the final day to file a legal challenge, citing fear of protests and civic action. Main opposition leader Brian Mundubile was thus prevented from submitting an election petition.

Since then, people in the civic space are too scared to speak up, protests have been shut down, people have been arrested and jailed without charge, and journalists are facing intimidation, arbitrary arrests and legal harassment.

“Zambians right now are scared to speak up,” Kajee said.

However, Zambia is not the only country in Africa where media freedom is under threat.

Journalists across Africa face significant safety risks, though the level of danger varies from country to country. A recent baseline survey by the Wits Centre for Journalism (journalism.co.za) found that around 60% of journalists on the continent have received death threats or hostile comments on social media. The study also found that only 40% of journalists receive support from their workplaces when they experience threats or harassment.

Kajee said that while levels of relative danger might differ, the results show that the majority of journalists feel unsafe or have been threatened in some way. She pointed to the case of Micah Reddy, a South African investigative journalist who was held in secretive custody in Djibouti for four days before being deported home safely.

Listen to the Africa Report with Ayesha Kajee on Sabaahul Muslim, presented by Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.