Dr Alexander Beresford discusses how Nelson Mandela’s legacy will affect the future of South African politics

After the news of Nelson Mandela's passing, Dr Alexander Beresford, lecturer in the Politics of African Development, considers the impact of Mandela's legacy on South African politics.

Dr Beresford examines how Mandela’s image has been utilised by South African political parties in the past, and how his memory is likely to be used in future political campaigns.

Dr Beresford concludes that, “the 2014 election will almost certainly be marked by the main parties squabbling over who has the right to claim to be the true guardians of Mandela’s legacy. Such an argument may well serve to distract them from addressing the more pressing challenges confronting South Africa, reducing the democratic contest to an unsavoury and unproductive battle over image and personalities.”

Read the full article by Dr Beresford.