2021MunicipalElections | ANC on cusp of historic losses
It is the first time the party of Nelson Mandela has received less than half of ballots cast in any election in the continent's most industrialised nation."The worst could have happened," ANC elections chief Fikile Mbalula told reporters.He was adamant"we are not politically obliterated, we are not annihilated, that could have happened".The immediate impact of Monday's voting is local, as parties set about horse-trading to build coalitions in towns and cities.
"For some time, we've been trying to implement democracy in South Africa, but we have not really succeeded up to now to have a truly competitive multi-party democracy," said Sandile Swana, an independent political analyst.Major cities such as Johannesburg and Pretoria have had coalition governments since the last local polls five years ago. The trend continues.
It's hard to remember now, but in the first democratic elections in 1994, the ANC's dominance was far from assured. But after Mandela ascended to the presidency, the party expanded its electoral success over the next decade until it controlled almost all major cities, and held a super-majority in parliament.ANC KZN briefs media"It's a psychological barrier, and now it's the same for the national election," said William Gumede of the Democracy Works think tank.Unemployment, always stubbornly high, has hit a record 34.4 percent.
Mismanagement and corruption have left the country unable to guarantee a steady electricity supply. Water cuts and sewage leaks are common.
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