The alternation of presidencies in South Africa has helped the ANC weather the storms of being in power yet powerless to bring full transformation to democratic South Africa. The ANC under Nelson Mandela was the great symbol of political liberation, reconciliation and nation-building. The Mbeki presidency brought the promises of ‘down to work’, ‘real transformation’ and ‘steady progress’. As the Mbeki presidency stagnated under the weight of succession struggle, the pending Zuma presidency became depicted as the one that would reorient and ring in the mission liberation links. As the Zuma presidency sagged under the burdens of recalcitrant transformation, state and governance deficits and global recessions(s), and successors remained under wraps, it remained to be seen how continuous presidential succession, this time around, would be positioned to nurture power for the ANC.

A lesson of the ANC-South African presidents in the first two decades of democracy has been the demonstration of the necessity for the South African president to be in good standing with the ANC. The final power holders in all instances have been ANC movement forces, even if at times with Mbeki it seemed that state power was enough to make the president of the country rule supreme. The transition to Zuma presented the contrast of the president subjecting himself to ANC power, and steering the ANC in this servant-to- the-movement mode.

The Zuma period brought the party right into the state to tower over the state. Its renewal of governance processes started with the restructuring of the Presidency. Activation turned out to be a drawn-out process. Potential evidence of realising management and substantive delivery goals for government were delayed and the next ANC presidential struggle threatened to interrupt it, as had happened from 2008–09.

Beyond external dependency on the ANC and presidential standing in relation to the ANC, presidencies derive much of their power from the internal structuring of the institution of the Presidency in the state, and its governance effects on society. The Presidency reflects much of the presidents’ orientations to the linkage between the party and the state. The structuring and operations of the Presidency are thus central to political power in the country.