Pauline H. Baker is associate director of the Congressional Program at the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C., and has conducted extensive research on South Africa.
Surveys show that Africans’ commitment to democracy fades over time, but also that their support can be refreshed by alternations in power via elections.
Election officials made strides toward secure voter identification, and a two-party system appears to be emerging, but the 2019 elections revealed continuing problems with vote-buying and violence.