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South Africa’s unity government now has five parties, ANC says

South Africa’s unity government now has five parties, ANC says

THE African National Congress said that South Africa's new government has five parties in it so far, representing more than two-thirds of the seats in the National Assembly, and talks with other parties were ongoing. Following last month's election, the ANC was forced to forge alliances with other political parties after failing to win a parliamentary majority for the first since the 1994 election that marked the end of apartheid. ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected as South Africa's president by parliament on Friday, as his party drew support from its largest rival, the white-led, pro-business Democratic Alliance, as well as two…
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South African assets soar after unity government confirmed, Fed talks ahead

South African assets soar after unity government confirmed, Fed talks ahead

SOUTH African assets gained, building on momentum after unity government members were confirmed last week and ahead of talks by U.S. Federal Reserve officials later in the day. South Africa's National Assembly sat for the first time on Friday after last month's election, where Cyril Ramaphosa of the African National Congress was re-elected as president. Ramaphosa's swearing-in will take place on Wednesday. At 1511 GMT, the rand traded at 18.09 against the dollar, about 9% stronger than its previous close. "The domestic currency saw volatility around South Africa's elections on investor uncertainty but has now strengthened ... as the establishment…
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South Africa’s ANC weighs up partners, from free-marketeers to Marxists

South Africa’s ANC weighs up partners, from free-marketeers to Marxists

THE African National Congress was holding high-stakes internal talks about which parties it should approach to form South Africa's next government, with diametrically opposed Marxists and free-marketeers on the menu of options. After 30 years of dominance since Nelson Mandela led it to power in the 1994 elections that marked the end of apartheid, the ANC lost its majority in last week's national vote. It remains the largest party but can no longer govern alone. Voters punished the former liberation movement for high levels of poverty, joblessness and inequality, rampant crime, rolling power cuts and corruption - problems that have held South Africa back and will challenge the…
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South Africa’s president urges unity as ANC support plunges

South Africa’s president urges unity as ANC support plunges

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa called on South Africa's political parties to work together for the good of the country as final results from last week's election confirmed his African National Congress had lost its majority for the first time. The result, announced on Sunday, is the worst election showing for the ANC - Africa's oldest liberation movement, once led by Nelson Mandela - since it came to power 30 years ago, ending white minority rule. Voters, angry at joblessness, inequality and rolling blackouts, slashed support for the ANC to 40.2%, down from 57.5% in the previous 2019 parliamentary vote. Official results showed…
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South Africa election: What happens after ANC loses majority?

South Africa election: What happens after ANC loses majority?

FOR the first time in South Africa's democratic era, the African National Congress (ANC) will have to seek a coalition partner to govern with after it was on course to fall well short of a majority in the national election. Here are scenarios of what could happen next in South Africa and which parties the ANC might partner with: WILL RAMAPHOSA GET OUSTED? With results in from over 60% of polling stations, the ANC had just under 42% of votes, by far its worst result since democratic elections began after the end of apartheid in 1994 and leaving it short of a…
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South Africa election: Will there be a new president or government?

South Africa election: Will there be a new president or government?

SOUTH Africans vote in national and provincial elections on May 29 with opinion polls suggesting the governing African National Congress will lose its majority for the first time in the democratic era while remaining the largest party. Under South Africa's constitution, voters elect 400 members of the National Assembly, who then elect the president by a simple majority. In all previous elections since 1994, the ANC won and lawmakers elected the party's leader as president. Here are scenarios that could unfold this time, depending on the electoral maths. ANC OUTPERFORMS POLLS AND WINS In recent months, several polls suggested ANC support was hovering around…
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South Africa’s 2024 election: What you need to know

South Africa’s 2024 election: What you need to know

SOUTH Africans vote in national and provincial elections on May 29 that could test the African National Congress's 30-year rule. After the vote, held every five years, the new National Assembly will choose the country's next president from among its members. Below are facts about the election and the voting process. ELECTORAL SYSTEM Voting is under a proportional system where parties and candidates are competing for 400 seats in the National Assembly. Parties on the national ballot will contest 200 of those seats while the other 200 are divided between the nine regions and contested by parties and independent candidates. In…
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South Africa’s election management body has done a good job for 30 years: here’s why

South Africa’s election management body has done a good job for 30 years: here’s why

MORE than in previous elections, South Africa’s Electoral Commission (IEC) will be tested to the hilt in this year’s national and provincial elections on 29 May. For the first time in 30 years, the electoral majority of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is in jeopardy. This makes the upcoming poll the most consequential one since 1994 when the country commenced with its democratisation. The electoral commission’s tasks are to enforce the rules of the electoral game and the parties’ ethical conduct. It must also be the dispute resolution champion and ensure that the election is free and fair. These…
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South Africa’s ANC wary of post-election coalition, says it ‘won’t work’

South Africa’s ANC wary of post-election coalition, says it ‘won’t work’

SOUTH Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party is betting on retaining its parliamentary majority in a May election and is not in talks with other parties on a possible coalition government, the party's deputy secretary general said. South Africans will go to polls on May 29 to elect a new National Assembly, which will then choose the next president. "We will not go to war having accepted defeat. We are going to war to win," ANC veteran Nomvula Mokonyane told Reuters in an interview, adding that the party was aware that "stakes are high because not everybody is comfortable…
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South Africa to hold national and provincial elections on May 29

South Africa to hold national and provincial elections on May 29

SOUTH Africa will hold national and provincial elections on May 29, President Cyril Ramaphosa's office said. The elections are expected to be the most competitive since the end of the apartheid system. Political analysts widely predict that the governing African National Congress (ANC) party will lose its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994, with record power cuts, poor service delivery and high levels of unemployment among voter complaints. South Africans will elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each of the country's nine provinces before the National Assembly elects the president. Ramaphosa, 71,…
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