The contested local elections come as the governing party seeks to halt an electoral slide that saw its share drop from 70% in 2004 to just 40% two decades later. Residents in key strongholds like Alexandra and Soweto face severe service delivery failures, including persistent sewage problems and utility outages. Furthermore, systemic municipal distress is underscored by recent oversight records, which revealed that only 39 out of 257 municipalities secured clean audits.
Key points
Widespread municipal failures in delivering basic utilities are fueling substantial voter…: Widespread municipal failures in delivering basic utilities are fueling substantial voter apathy and frustration in former strongholds.
The outcome of the municipal elections poses a severe test to governing party control fol…: The outcome of the municipal elections poses a severe test to governing party control following the earlier loss of its national parliamentary majority.
Independent oversight reports emphasize that systemic mismanagement remains deeply entren…: Independent oversight reports emphasize that systemic mismanagement remains deeply entrenched across local government administrations.
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- Published
South Africans are voting in highly contested local elections likely to see a haemorrhaging of votes for the country's former ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC).
This year's voting season has been marked by intense campaigns that have included politicians spinning cars, watching grannies knit and even wading through giant-sized potholes.
Leaders are campaigning to head South Africa's nearly 300 municipalities, responsible for basic service provision such as water, electricity and refuse collection.
For the ANC, the elections are a chance to prove it still has what it takes to govern. The party had a disastrous showing in the last national election, when it lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994 when the racist apartheid system ended.
Support for the party has been dropping significantly over the years because of anger over high levels of corruption, unemployment and crime.
At its peak, in 2004, the ANC got 70% of the vote in the general election. Two decades later its share dropped to 40%.
Polls and pundits have predicted a further loss in these elections…
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