From dominant-party rule to coalition politics: A qualitative thematic review of Governance in Post-ANC South Africa

From dominant-party rule to coalition politics: A qualitative thematic review of Governance in Post-ANC South Africa

Nkarhi Excellent Mathebula

Issue: Vol. 7 No.9 2026 Article 7 pp.2568 – 2582
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026797 Published online 23rd October 2026

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ABSTRACT

This study examined the governance implications of South Africa’s transition from dominant-party rule to coalition politics following the declining electoral dominance of the African National Congress (ANC). The purpose of the study was to analyse how this political shift reshapes democratic accountability, political stability, policy coordination, and public service delivery within an increasingly fragmented multiparty system. The study adopted a qualitative interpretive design informed by a systematic thematic literature review. Peer-reviewed journal articles, scholarly books, and policy documents were purposively selected from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Sabinet using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The selected literature was analysed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis framework, supported by Dominant-Party System Theory and Coalition Governance Theory as the guiding analytical lenses. On the one hand, coalition arrangements enhance political pluralism, broaden representation, and strengthen democratic oversight by dispersing power across multiple political actors. On the other hand, coalition politics is associated with instability in governance characterised by fragile alliances, leadership turnover, policy fragmentation, and administrative uncertainty, particularly at the municipal level. The analysis further shows that the effectiveness and sustainability of coalition governance depend on institutionalised coalition agreements, effective conflict-resolution mechanisms, and strengthened administrative capacity. The study concludes that South Africa’s shift from dominant-party rule to coalition governance reflects a structural transformation in its democratic system, requiring new institutional and political arrangements to balance inclusivity with governance stability. By integrating dominant-party and coalition governance theories, the study contributes a consolidated conceptual framework for understanding governance dynamics in post-dominant-party South Africa.

Keywords: Coalition governance, Dominant-party Systems, Democratic Accountability, Governance, Political transition.

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Dr Nkarhi Mathebula is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Limpopo. He is currently teaching Adult Education in the Department of Education Studies at the University of Limpopo (South Africa). He holds a PhD from the University of Limpopo. Dr Mathebula has published 47 papers. He has presented papers in both national and international conferences and chaired various conference sessions. Dr Mathebula’s key areas of research interest include Adult Education, Higher Education, Teaching Practice, and Public Administration.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Mathebula, Nkarhi Excellent. “From Dominant-Party Rule to Coalition Politics: A qualitative thematic review of Governance in Post-Anc South Africa.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.9 (2026): 2568 – 2582. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026797