Skip next section Dissatisfaction with the ruling ANC threatens to end its dominance
05/29/2024May 29, 2024
Dissatisfaction with the ruling ANC threatens to end its dominance
The African National Congress (ANC), which has ruled continuously since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994, is in danger of losing its absolute majority.
According to opinion polls, the ANC may recieved less than 50% of the vote, forcing it to form a coalition.
South Africans are dissatisfied with the ANC as the country struggles with a weakening economy, rampant unemployment currently at 32.9%, poverty, ailing state-owned companies, regular power cuts and failures in the water supply.
The health care system is also crumbing and crime rates are high.
https://p.dw.com/p/4gOmo
Skip next section South Africans began voting in pivotal national elections
05/29/2024May 29, 2024
South Africans began voting in pivotal national elections
Polls have opened in South Africa to elect a new parliament.
The elections are seen as the most significant since freedom fighter and then president Nelson Mandela led the country to democracy in 1994.
Members of 52 parties are competing for 400 parliamentary seats. New provincial governments will also be elected. Of the around 40 million eligible voters, 27.4 million, or around 68% have registered to vote.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. local time (0500 UTC) to 9 p.m. The newly elected parliament must then form a government and elect a president.
Results are expected on Sunday.
kh/cs (AP/dpa)
https://p.dw.com/p/4gOmE
05/29/2024May 29, 2024
ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa may be forced to form a coalition to stay on as president
African National Congress (ANC)
The ANC is still expected to win the most seats in Parliament. But without an outright majority, it might need to rely on a coalition to govern and reelect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second five-year term.
Democratic Alliance
Main opposition leader John Steenhuisen of the Democratic Alliance party calls this, “South Africa’s most consequential election in post-democratic history.” Ahead of the polls, he urged people to vote the ANC out to “rescue” the country.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EEF)
The Economic Freedom Fighters party is the third biggest in Parliament. Headed by former ANC youth leader Julius Malema, it said it was calling on supporters to “flood the voting stations to have our say” on Wedesday.
https://p.dw.com/p/4gOoZ
The post South Africa election updates: Polls open in key election appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
