President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa will hold parliamentary elections on May 29, a decision that may mark a historic turning point in the nation’s political landscape.
This election is poised to be significant, with opinion polls indicating that Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) party is facing the prospect of falling below the 50 percent mark in nationwide elections for the first time since the dawn of democracy in the country.
The ANC, which has been in power since the end of apartheid in 1994, may need to form a coalition government if it fails to secure a majority in the upcoming elections.
Mounting grievances over issues such as rampant violent crime, economic stagnation, power outages, and high unemployment rates have contributed to a sense of disillusionment among South Africans.
Ramaphosa himself is confronting challenges from both ends of the political spectrum.
Despite these challenges, the ANC remains a formidable force in South African politics, drawing support from various levels of government and benefiting from its legacy as a key player in the anti-apartheid struggle.
Ramaphosa is set to unveil his party’s manifesto this Saturday at a major rally in Durban, a crucial battleground region in the upcoming elections.
Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of these elections as not only fulfilling a constitutional obligation but also as a celebration of South Africa’s democratic journey and a determination for a better future.
He called upon all citizens to exercise their democratic right to vote peacefully and in accordance with the law.
The announcement of the election date has been eagerly anticipated, and rival parties have wasted no time in launching their campaigns, sensing an opportunity amidst the ANC’s perceived vulnerabilities.
From the right, the Democratic Alliance (DA) aims to rally smaller parties to challenge the ANC’s dominance, while on the left, the ANC faces competition from Julius Malema’s radical Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and a new faction led by former President Jacob Zuma, despite his tarnished reputation due to corruption allegations.
