South Africa’s democracy is producing a war zone.
Crime, 50% unemployment, and collapsing metros. And the same political class keeps returning to power. That’s not “bad luck.” It’s incentives.
In this Weekly Update on the State of the Nation Podcast, we unpack the uncomfortable theory: the ANC’s easiest path to staying powerful is to keep the middle class from growing.Because the middle class votes for better governance.
Then we look at the “loop”: weak education → no mobility → no growth → dependency + race scapegoating → repeat.
We also interrogate the electoral system itself.
Proportional representation was designed to weaken a dominant ANC.
But in 2026, it’s empowering political entrepreneurs and one-seat parties that can hold metros hostage.
Watch the video and make your own choices - Chris Wilkinson.
