This is a translation of the original article in Portuguese. Read the original (Português).
The African National Congress (ANC), the party led by Nelson Mandela, won about 31% of the vote in South Africa’s municipal elections, its worst performance in its history, according to the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal and other outlets that followed the vote count.
According to the final results, the party took 30.76% of the vote, according to the newspaper JM. The Democratic Alliance, the main opposition force, received 25%. The party of former president Jacob Zuma reached 10%, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Even with the decline, the ANC remains the party with the most votes nationwide, as the American newspaper Chicago Tribune reports. The problem is that this lead is no longer enough to govern alone in much of the country’s cities.
The fragmented vote left many municipalities without a party holding an absolute majority. In practice, these local governments will be run by coalitions formed through negotiations among parties, according to the American newspaper Los Angeles Times.
One of the most closely watched cases is Johannesburg, the country’s largest economic center. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Democratic Alliance could overtake the ANC in the city, which would make the historic party’s loss of ground even more symbolic.
The main reason cited for the erosion is the lack of basic services. Residents have demanded regular supplies of water and electricity, and frustration over these failures weighed against the party that governs the country, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The result matters beyond local politics. The ANC led the struggle against apartheid, the system of racial segregation that existed in the country, and for decades was seen as synonymous with South African democracy. The loss of support shows that this historic capital no longer guarantees votes when daily life does not improve.
The outcome also matters for Brazil. South Africa is a Brazilian partner in BRICS, the group of emerging economies, and South Africa’s political stability influences the bloc’s activities.
With alliances needed in several cities, the scenario ahead is one of municipal governments more dependent on agreements between parties, at a time when voters have shown little patience with unfulfilled promises in public services.
Reporting from The Wall Street Journal (p. 10, Johannesburgo (África do Sul)), JM (p. 17, África do Sul), Chicago Tribune (p. 16, África do Sul), Los Angeles Times (p. 3, Cidade do Cabo (África do Sul)).
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