Repression by the South African government during the apartheid era undermined the ability of civil society groups to form. Instead of channeling protests through civil society organizations that act as a “safety valve” for discontent in a more peaceful manner, most South Africans who want to make their voices heard end up using violence as a tool to gain advantage politicians.1 The use of violence as a component of South Africa's political culture originated during the anti-apartheid struggle of the 1980s, when the ANC and other underground anti-apartheid groups used violent and militaristic actions, language and ideas make your voice heard as part of social mobilization. Even after the end of apartheid and the establishment of democratic rule, elements of formal democracy such as competitive electoral politics, interest lobbying and open public debate have not replaced the violent and militaristic actions, rhetoric and ideas that they formed the political foundation norm of the 1980s.2 Civil society organizations remain weak and superficial even under the current post-apartheid democratic regime, due to the massive co-optation of many civil society groups into the ANC.3 The weakness of civil society in South Africa and the reluctance of many South Africans to organize such groups in an environment of strong political domination by the ANC make it possible for violent action to occur in many South African protests.4 How is it used? Political violence in South Africa is employed in many different ways. In some cases, many violent protests do not require the use of armed weapons such as machetes. In an Independent Online article dated September 15, 2005, cited in Reddy's article, a protest by high school students...... middle of paper ......ye the authoritarian tendencies of the state from l he apartheid era could return, especially given the possibility that extremist factions of the ANC would use political violence to seize power in such a scenario. The ANC's reduction of state power due to violent and factional infighting and the lack of a strong and viable political opposition could herald a long period of political instability and uncertainty for the South African people. Bibliography Fields, Karl, Patrick O'Neil, and Don Share. “Cases in Comparative Politics” (New York, London: W. W. Norton, 2013) Pinnell, Sabrina. Lecture “Topic 7: South Africa”, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, March 18, 2014). Reddy, Thievn. “ANC Decline, Social Mobilization and Political Society: Understanding the Evolution of South Africa's Political Culture,” Politikon 37 (December 2010): 185-206