Many critics question the validity of South Africa's inclusion as a BRICS country. Some believe that South Africa, although an emerging country, does not show significant overall growth like other African countries such as Nigeria and other sub-Saharan countries (Besada, Tok & Winters, 2013). On 7 May 2014, South Africa hosted “its fifth general election” (Enca.com, 2014). In his 7 May 2014 article for BBC News, Milton Nkosi reported that although “around 25 million people were registered to vote, around half the population” (Nkosi, 2014) voted. Furthermore, Nkosi (2014) states that “the ANC campaign drew heavily on its campaign to end apartheid, the wave of grief over Mandela's death”. Ironically, after twenty years of democratic rule, the ANC uses history and the loss of a leader as its main ploy to win its campaign. In contrast, Ronnie Kasrils, a former ANC minister, appealed to people not to vote for the ANC as a means of reminding the government “that they must serve the people of the country and not themselves” (Nkosi, 2014). . Kasrils quoted in Nkosi (2014) told the BBC that “there is rot going on, there is enormous corruption and cronyism”. Nonetheless, the ANC still prevailed.J. The Economist's O's (2014) adequately examines the state of South Africa's political, economic and social "dilemma" in his article in which he highlights the fact that the ANC, which has governed for two decades, has been inadequate in governing the country and in supporting the well-being of its people. For example, O's states that, “since the last election in 2009… there has been a steady increase in violent protests against local government, corruption and poor public services” (O's, 2014). From 19...... middle of paper ......Site. Wsws.org. Retrieved May 27, 2014, from http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/05/26/safr-m26.html?view=printSmith, D. (2014). The glory of the ANC fades with the vote of South Africa's “born free” generation. the Guardian. Retrieved May 28, 2014, from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/25/anc-south-africa-born-free- generation-election Weber, R. (2014). The “born free” don't care about elections in South Africa. Usatoday.com. Retrieved May 27, 2014, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/05/06/south-africa-election/8765313/Za.undp.org. (2013). 404| UNDP. Retrieved May 26, 2014, from http://www.za.undp.org/content/dam/south_africa/.../MDG_October-2013Zarenda, H. (2013). South Africa's National Development Plan and its implications for regional development. tralac.org. Retrieved May 21, 2014, from http://www.tralac.org/.../D13WP012013-Zarenda-South-Africas-NDP-and-imp