South Africa is slowly souring on its ruling party
Local elections suggest the ANC will need coalitions to stay in charge
JACOB ZUMA, South Africa’s former president, was fond of saying that the African National Congress (ANC) would rule until Jesus came back. Given his party’s performance in local elections on November 1st, “Christ alive!” would be an understandable reaction. The ANC won about 46% of the vote—the first time it has dipped under 50% in a nationwide ballot since apartheid ended in 1994. The results suggest that if there is to be a second coming, it is unlikely to be by the party of Nelson Mandela.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Hegemon no more”
From the November 6th 2021 edition
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