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South Africans are voting in what is seen as the most pivotal general election since the end of apartheid, with polls indicating that the ruling African National Congress party could lose its majority in Parliament for the first time in 30 years.
There is growing discontent among South Africans over the country’s economic prospects, despite it being the richest African nation.
The country’s unemployment rate remains above 30% amid limited labor demand, while inequality is among the highest in the world, disproportionately impacting the Black majority.
“South Africa’s economy remains crippled by multiple structural constraints, including electricity shortages, transport bottlenecks (ports and freight rail), and a high crime rate,” the World Bank noted recently.
If ANC loses its majority in Parliament, it must form a coalition with others to stay in government, which has never happened before. Still, it’s unlikely that any of the opposition parties will overtake ANC, which still has wide support as it’d led the country out of apartheid in 1994.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (pictured) is confident that ANC will retain its majority and remain in government.
Around 28M people are expected to vote in the election, with final results expected to be announced on Sunday.
