If the exit polls are to be believed South Africa’s governing party the African National Congress (ANC) will stay in power, a position they have held since 1994. However, given that corruption in the ANC has been rife for years the main opposition party the Democratic Alliance (DA) which is more centrist will probably increase its share of the vote (but will still get less than half what the ANC will poll). The more recently formed (in 2013) Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are likely to be the third largest party vote-wise, but they will be some distance behind the main two.
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Corruption is not the only issue affecting voters, as economic growth (as measured by GDP) is stagnant, and unemployment is staggeringly high at over 27% for the main populace, rising to over 54% for younger people. No wonder voter apathy is at an all-time high given that there is little hope of fundamental change while the opposition parties are so far in the minority.
VIDEO: 🇿🇦 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrives to cast his vote at a polling station in Johannesburg. South Africans are voting in national elections seen as a test of whether Ramaphosa can reverse growing dissatisfaction with the ruling ANC. #SAElections2019 pic.twitter.com/IXTYHvvNOo
— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 8, 2019
