JOHANNESBURG - The ANC faces widespread criticism for the country's socio-political problems as the governing party.
Economic hardships and rolling power cuts have plunged more South Africans into poverty with communities left in a vulnerable state.
Writer Nick Hedley says South Africa's weak opposition parties should carry some of the blame.
"I am not necessarily trying to absolve the ruling party of blame it absolutely should take the bulk of the criticism."
"What I am arguing, is that opposition parties should take part of the blame, they completely failed to offer an alternative that voters see as viable and palatable.
"DA has gone backwards, it lost three million votes in the 2021 local government elections compared to 2016.
"The only reason it held up a decent percentage is because voters are staying away from the polls in general," he said.
"What I am trying to argue is that voters don't see any alternative they would rather just stay at home... opposition parties need to take some blame if they have failed to offer something compelling to voters."