ABSTRACT
The situation of the media vis-à-vis elections in South Africa is linked to its history, and present and future position within the context of sub-Saharan Africa. Even more so, new endeavors to link the countries of Africa into a larger unit, namely the African Union, based on the example of the European Union, makes the relationship between South Africa and its neighbors on the continent even more crucial. One reason for starting the chapter from this point of departure is that there is a perception that South Africa with its liberal constitution is a “beacon of light” in Africa to be evaluated not against the realities of postcolonial Africa, but rather within the context of the liberal-democratic societies of Europe and North America. This said, South Africa has a unique position in terms of the topic of this book.
