Guest: Henning Melber, Extraordinary Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria

The recent South African election results on 29 May, revealing a significant drop in support for the African National Congress (ANC) from 57% to 40%, underscore a pivotal moment in the country's democratic evolution. This decline not only highlights the waning popularity of former liberation movements across southern Africa but also confirms long-standing critiques of their governance. Since the late 1990s, I have examined the limitations and challenges faced by these movements once in power. As new electoral contests loom, such as Namibia's upcoming elections, these issues may further reveal the struggles of transforming liberation movements into effective, democratic governance structures.