In 2021, South Africa marked 27 years since becoming a democratic state. This significant number holds symbolic meaning in the country's liberation history, representing the number of years former President Nelson Mandela spent in prison before his release and the transition to a democratic South Africa. In 1994, there was a sense of "Madiba magic" as observers reflected on the miraculous birth of the new democratic state. In 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa also spoke of a "New Dawn" for South Africa, drawing on the moral authority and memory of Mandela as he pledged to combat corruption and improve governance. 2021 also marked the 25th anniversary of South Africa's progressive and transformative Constitution. Despite efforts by the Ramaphosa administration to restore confidence in leadership, the 2021 local government elections revealed disinterest from voters and resistance from various actors towards the New Dawn and its call for unity ("Thuma Mina"). This updated edition includes analysis of the Ramaphosa administration's