SA is due for an upgrade. In 1994, SA version 1.0 was introduced to the world. A shiny, brand-new democracy was born in a social and political climate of hope and on the back of massive political victories, including the release of Nelson Mandela and the referendum that officially ended apartheid.

Liberation activists were heralded as heroes. Street committees, communities and unionised workers and students soldiered on the streets through the bruising protests and state of emergency made one final mobilisation effort in the lead-up to the 1994 elections, creating mass voter education and registration campaigns to ensure that enough people showed up at the voting stations on election day. They hoped this would be the final lever pulled to activate a new democratic SA...