In South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC), representing 60 percent of the vote, has dominated as the "populist" political party since Nelson Mandela's election. Recently the Democratic Alliance (DA), widely regarded as the "white" party and led by Helen Zille, a former journalist and anti-apartheid activist, is growing, indicating that the racial politics that informed voting more than 16 years ago are being challenged. According to the Economist, despite the growth of the DA and increased criticism of the ANC among South Africans, “most black people refuse to break their bond with the former liberation party." Can a multiracial party exist in a country with South Africa’s racial history? Historically, one-party systems — black or white — make for bad government, so the potential growth of the DA could be very meaningful for South Africa. Is Helen Zille the next great South African hope?
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