A significant loss of support for the ruling party, which led South Africa’s decades-long struggle against oppressive white minority rule, would be a blow ahead of the next major test – the 2019 national elections.
Advertisement
The local election is also a mid-term reflection on the performance of President Jacob Zuma, who has been plagued by economic woes and a series of scandals since taking office in 2009.
A more radical opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, contested the local elections for the first time.
A South African news outlet, eNCA, says the Democratic Alliance is leading in early results from Johannesburg; Tshwane, the greater metropolitan area of the capital, Pretoria; and Nelson Mandela Bay, a municipality on the east coast.
Some ANC backers said votes expected from black townships would eat into DA’s lead in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The DA, which past year elected its first black leader, Mmusi Maimane, as part of its efforts to shake off its image as a party that mainly serves white interests, has retained control of Cape Town, which it has held since 2006.
In a statement, the ANC said that “we will reflect and introspect where our support has dropped”.
But he was sticking with the ruling party for now, despite the travails of its leader. Neither it nor the ANC appeared to have a majority in Johannesburg or Tshwane that would allow it to govern alone, raising the possibility of coalition governments.
“A very weak outcome for the ANC, getting less than a 55 percent national vote share and losing three metros, would likely be viewed as a market positive”, said Nomura emerging market analyst Peter Attard Montalto.. South Africans voted Wednesday in mun…
With the count well under way, early results put the ANC ahead nationwide but with its lowest-ever levels of backing.
The DA is now enjoying a lead of 46,65% of the votes, with the ANC following with 40,99%.
“The agencies’ major concerns are unsustainable public spending, mismanagement and overspending at state-owned enterprises, rising unemployment, lacklustre growth, lack of regulatory clarity on key legislation such as minerals development and labour practices, as well as the uncertain political climate”, the business risk agency said.
With 58% of the votes tallied, the ANC held 52.7% of the tally, with the DA at 29.1%, and the EFF at 7.2%.
The DA now controls Cape Town and won 22 percent support in national elections in 2014, and the EFF won 6.4 percent.
One key result of the research was the overwhelming number who said they planned to vote for change.
Advertisement
Earlier this year, South Africa’s highest court said he had violated the constitution by ignoring an order to pay back some of the $27-million in state funds that were spent on his luxurious family home in Nkandla village. Zuma has said he would repay some of the funds spent on his home.
