ANC under pressure as South Africa vote approaches

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa's four main political parties began their final weekend of campaigning on Saturday before potentially crucial elections that could bring the most significant change the country has seen in three decades.

Supporters of the African National Congress, in power since the end of white minority rule in 1994, gathered at a football stadium in Johannesburg to hear party leader and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speak.

The ANC is under unprecedented pressure to maintain its parliamentary majority in Africa's most advanced country. After seeing its popularity decline steadily over the past two decades, Wednesday's vote could be a historic moment when the party once led by Nelson Mandela falls below 50% of the vote for the first time.

Several polls give the ANC less than 50% support, raising the possibility that it will need to form a national coalition. It would also be a first for South Africa's young democracy, established only 30 years ago with the first multiracial vote officially ending the apartheid system of racial segregation.

As thousands of ANC black, green and gold supporters attended his last major rally before the election, Ramaphosa acknowledged some of the grievances that contributed to his party's loss of support, including high levels of poverty and unemployment which mainly affect the population of the country. Black majority.

“We have a plan to get more South Africans into work,” Ramaphosa said. “Throughout this campaign, among our fellow citizens, in the workplaces, in the streets of our townships and villages, a large number of our fellow citizens have told us of their difficulties in finding work and meeting the needs of their families. their family.”

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, held a rally in Cape Town, South Africa's second largest city and its stronghold. Party leader John Steenhuisen gave a speech while blue-clad DA supporters held up blue umbrellas.

“Democrats, my friends, are you ready for change?” » said Steenhuisen. The crowd responded “Yes!” »

“Are you ready to save South Africa?” » added Steenhuisen.

Although support for the ANC has declined in three successive national elections and appears set to continue to decline, no party has emerged to overtake it – or even challenge it – and is still expected to be one way or another the most important party in this election. .

But losing its majority would be the clearest rejection yet of the famous party that led the anti-apartheid movement and is credited with leading South Africans to freedom.