This book presents a holistic perspective and analysis of democratic practice, processes, and governance in South Africa. It examines the development in the South African governing system and its response to the challenges of the crisis of governance under the influence of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). While doing so, the book's central objective is to examine the progress of the South African government in strengthening democracy and political governance. Each of the contributions follows a similar structure and addresses the following thematic issues: (1) Assessment of the implementation of the core APRM-related programs; (2) Identification of areas of excellence and prognosis for further improvement; (3) Identification of the weak areas of each and how to make the future implementation better, (4) Identification areas to improve democracy and political governance. 
A self-assessment strategy initiated by the African Union (AU) in 2002 and adoptedin 2003, the APRM is a voluntary mechanism adopted by countries in the African continent to improve governance in general. As a specialized AU agency, APRM monitors the peer review activities of each African country. It serves as a tool for sharing experiences, reinforcing best practices, identifying deficiencies, and assessing capacity-building needs to foster policies, standards, and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development, and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration.  

This book will be useful for and appeal to scholars and researchers in political science, public administration, and the social sciences in general, as well as policy-makers interested in a better understanding of democratic practice and processes, governance, public policy, and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

Isioma Ile is a Full Professor at the School of Government, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and has 20 years of experience in academia. Ile is a member of the Association of Southern African Schools and Departments of Public Administration and Management (ASSADPAM) and the South African Association for Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM). An accomplished researcher and a member of various research teams, her international experience includes collaborative work with the University of Bochum in Germany, the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, and the Harry Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri, USA. She has tremendous passion for the continent as demonstrated by her contribution to public sector skills development in Nigeria, South Africa, and South Sudan. Ile has held leadership roles in various capacities as Head of Department, Public Administration, University of FortHare, South Africa, and at the School of Government, University of Western Cape. Her current research focuses on governance and policy reforms in Africa, specifically indigenous knowledge systems and social policy monitoring and evaluation. She has published 5 books and numerous papers in various journals.
Omololu Fagbadebo is a Research Associate and a Contract Lecturer at the Durban University of Technology, South Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Previously, he taught Political Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, and at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He was Press Secretary to the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Nigeria, 1999-2003. Fagbadebo participated in the Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI) on American Politics and Political Thought Fellowship at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA, in 2010. His research focuses on comparative politics, legislative studies, public governance, development studies, public institutions, and African government and politics. His book publications includePublic Procurement, Corruption and the Crisis of Governance in Africa (2021), co-edited with Prof. Nirmala Dorasamy, published by Palgrave Macmillan;Democratic Practices and Governance in Nigeria (2021), co-edited with two other colleagues, published by Routledge;Impeachment in the Nigerian Presidential System: Challenges, Successes and the Way Forward (2020), published by Palgrave Macmillan; andPerspectives on the Legislature and the Prospects of Accountability in Nigeria and South Africa(2019), co-edited with Prof. Fayth Ruffin, published by Springer International Publishing. 

Introduction.- Chapter 1. Democracy and Political Governance in South Africa.- Chapter 2. A critique of South Africas progress towards accountable and efficient public office holders.- Chapter 3. Evaluating the Commitment of South Africa to the Principles of Separation of Powers.- Chapter 4. A rural perspective on the African Peer Review Mechanism: views on socio-economic development and public service delivery in rural South Africa.- Chapter 5. South Africas Democracy, Peace and Stability:The Struggle Continues.- Chapter 6. South Africas political commitment to the promotion and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups.- Chapter 7. Evaluating the rights of children and young people in Africa: The policies and practices in South Africa.- Chapter 8. Promotion and protection of the Rights of Citizens in South Africa: A Review.- Chapter 9. The voice of the voiceless: The state of Civil and Political Rights in South Africa.- Chapter 10. An assessment of Government Commitment to the Promotion and Protection of womens rights in South Africa.- Chapter 11. Deepening Leadership Accountability in South Africa.