In proper functioning democracies, the power of changing governments lies in hands of electorate with full universal suffrage.
The voters were fed up with Labour government mucking up their country for long, so they voted in Tories with Thatcher as Prime Minster in 1979. The success of her communicating to the voters that what is needed to fix UK as “sick man of Europe” at that time. They were re-elected until Labour under Blair ousted them.
The anger against Spain’s Popular Party’s handling aftermath of Madrid bombings was swift to oust them.
Now, the US voters gave Bush two years to sort out the mess he and his administration has created in 2004. Now, they have punished him and Republicans by giving the House and perhaps, the Senate to Democrats. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld resignation is too little and too late. Bush’s final years would be probably be lame duck presidency as he can’t do much as he could do before with compliant Republican dominated Congress.
The prospect of similar scenario in South Africa is dim. What are the chances of a credible opposition party with fresh ideas that appeals across diverse electorate and can take away ruling party’s majority? The only real opposition with ruling party is from within. Too much political parties is no good, as in Italy’s case and too little is no good either.