Slow path to modern governments and economy

Democracy in South Africa: A step backwards | The Economist:

"Although they give nominal support to democracy, most Africans continue to hold a deferential view of political authority, according to a recent study of 19 democratic countries on the continent carried out by Robert Mattes of the University of Cape Town. South Africa scored particularly poorly on questions relating to accountability. Barely one in three citizens thought that MPs should hold the president to account. Fewer than 40% agreed that “the government is like an employee; the people should be the bosses”, most preferring the view that “people are like children; the government should take care of them like a parent”. Only 10% thought that voters should hold MPs to account, whereas as many as four out of ten believed that presidents should be able to “decide everything”."