South African ANC loses mayor in Johannesburg and Pretoria

Johannesburg-South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has lost control of Johannesburg and other major cities after recent local elections.

ANC won less than 50% of the votes in local elections earlier this month. This is a big blow to the Nelson Mandela Party, which has ruled the country since the collapse of apartheid in 1994 and has lost support in subsequent elections.

The ANC was unable to form a coalition with smaller opposition parties and lost control of the metropolitan area of ​​Tshwane, including the country’s largest cities, Johannesburg, Ekurheni and the capital Pretoria, exacerbating the problem.

The Democratic Alliance’s opposition has successfully formed a coalition and now has mayors in all three cities in South Africa’s economic center, Gauteng.

The ANC was so divided by its rivals that it didn’t even support Tshwane’s candidate for mayor.

The ANC will also lose control of the metropolitan area of ​​eThekwini, a former fortress that includes the city of Durban. It is expected that small opposition parties will form a coalition in support of the Democratic Alliance.

The weak view of ANC in local elections is widespread as a result of poor provision of basic services, catastrophic power outages, and heightened disillusionment of voters against the party against numerous allegations of corruption against many leaders. increase. Its internal department has been accused of failing to form a governing coalition.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, ANC leader, described the loss of the city as a “major retreat.”

“As president of the ruling party, I’m disappointed with the African National Congress, but that’s the way we should accept the clear message of our people,” Rama Poza said. We have listened. This is a big setback for us, but it’s also a big lesson. “

However, ANC gained control of the metropolitan area of ​​Nelson Mandelabay, including Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).

South African municipal elections are held every five years to determine the composition of the city council responsible for providing important services such as water, waste removal and sanitation. The councilor then elects the mayor.

South African ANC loses mayor in Johannesburg and Pretoria

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