JOHANNESBURG: South Africans queued from early on Wednesday to vote in municipal elections, with anger over corruption, crime and failing public services threatening to inflict fresh losses on the African National Congress. The party of Nelson Mandela fell below 50% support for the first time in municipal elections in 2021 and could drop below 40% this time, according to opinion polls. With no other party large enough to take its place, many cities in South Africa are heading for unstable coalition governments that have been partly blamed for failing to deliver basic services, including water and electricity.
"I have seen the challenges that we face at local government level, but we are determined to rebuild our local government structure," President Cyril Ramaphosa said after voting in Johannesburg. Polls will close at 9 pm, and results are expected to be announced on Sunday. Unreliable water and electricity supplies, unemployment, crime and a lack of affordable housing ranked among voters' biggest concerns ahead of the election.
The outcome will help shape the political landscape ahead of the 2029 national election and could influence the succession battle within the ANC as Ramaphosa nears the end of his term as party leader in 2027. — Reuters
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
