“The (centrist) Democratic Alliance has emerged as a force in South African politics since 2009, and more recently, the (leftist/populist) Economic Freedom Fighters, a splinter group from the ANC, has made polling inroads”.
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“I will keep on voting ANC”. However, as both upward and downward social mobility changes across all races in the country so do views on parties like the DA. They continue to demonstrate vested interest, and to their political parties rather than to serve people.
With a new leader at the helm of the DA, Mmusi Maimane, the party hopes to attract more black votes, while fighting against a reputation of not being a fully inclusive, sometimes elitist movement that primarily serves the interest of white middle-class South Africans. South Africans are voti. To make matters worse, the new candidate is from the Zulu tribe, whereas most of the constituency belong to the Pedi tribe.
But corruption and cronyism as well as economic slowdown have done enormous damage to the party. Some 54% of those who indicated that they are registered to vote said that they would vote for the governing party in the local government elections. They’re frustrated that they can’t find jobs and are crowded into shacks, with sewage running outside in open gutters.
Interesting to note are the EFF and DA’s electioneering strategies.
It took 62% of the vote in the 2014 national elections, down from almost 66% in 2009.
Many first-time young voters are also confused about the cornucopia of parties and their manifestos.
The Ipsos opinion poll of 3,142 eligible voters showed the ANC leading in Johannesburg by 46 percent to the DA’s 41 percent, by 47 percent to 43 percent for the DA in Pretoria and losing in the southern port city of Port Elizabeth by a 37 percent to 44 percent margin.
Those cities are “game changers”, said Mcebisi Ndletyana, an associate professor of politics at the University of Johannesburg. Any loss of ground, he said, would signal that “the ANC is increasingly driven toward the periphery”, deepening the country’s rural-urban divide.
Patric Mtshaulana, a barrister who trained ANC members in exile during apartheid who represented Mr Malema in his disciplinary hearing, suggested the EFF could overtake the DA as the official opposition. But the EFF is expected to peel away votes too, setting up a highly competitive national election in 2019.
The ANC has achieved some important advances while in power. Access to water and electricity has improved, and poverty has dropped.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Jacob Zuma on stage at the ANC’s Siyanqoba rally at Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
South Africa’s highest court concluded that he had breached the constitution by ignoring an order to repay a portion of the $27-million (U.S.) in state funds that were spent on his luxurious family residence in Nkandla village.
Zuma has rejected the accusations, saying he is fit to lead. “The oppressors still control the economy”, he told the election campaign rally, speaking in the Zulu language. “We are doing things that were never done by anyone before”.
News24 asked president Zuma what he would do if he found out one of his mayors was corrupt. “People are exhausted, even grannies are sick and exhausted of this government”, Nathi Mulaudzi, a 40-year-old unemployed truck driver, told AFP. Those supporting the smallest parties are similarly less likely to vote. “It’s good theater and it’s good copy”. This compared to 28 per cent support for the ANC in Port Elizabeth, 31 per cent in Johannesburg and 23 per cent in Pretoria.
But the competition may give the ANC a wake-up call.
The DA’s move has sparked fury among the ANC leadership and supporters. “They have run out of ideas, we are killing them”. It is time for all of us to get involved in matters that affect our lives and the wellbeing of our communities.
Whoever they support, South Africa’s youth can only have influence if they show up.
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“There is hype around the idea that [the youth] are going to go out and vote, but that may not be the case”, Tracey said.
