Problems of Service Delivery Protests, Social Movements, and Democratic Consolidation: South Africa in Perspective

In recent decades, especially at the turn of the millennium, several countries considered as mature democracies are now exhibiting trends and patterns of democratic recession, democratic backsliding and democratic apostacy as many of them are experiencing legitimacy erosion as manifested through frequent public delivery protests organized by cross-sector social movements and general dissatisfaction with the quality and nature of service delivery. In South Africa, between 2004 and 2019, there were a total of over 3 000 service delivery protests organised by several social movements, with the country experiencing 2 455 service delivery protests just between July and September 2022 alone. This calls for an interrogation of the problems of service delivery protests in the midst of democratic consolidation. This paper therefore sought to examine the intricacies presented by problems of service delivery protest organised by various social movements within the contexts of states experiencing democratic consolidation. Specifically, the paper analysed the impact and implications of these social movements-organised service delivery protests on the progression of democratic consolidation. Methodologically, secondary data sources are used for analysis, with the concept of democratic consolidation providing conceptual lenses for analysis. Findings are critical in adding fresh perspectives and insights into the conversations on service delivery and democratic consolidation.