ANC gears up for election under Ramaphosa

AFP

DURBAN – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party
launches its election campaign on Saturday ahead of polls in May that it is
tipped to win despite recently falling support, internal divisions and a
sluggish economy.

The ANC, which has ruled since the end of apartheid 25 years ago, suffered
a sharp decline in popularity under the scandal-ridden presidency of Jacob
Zuma, who was ousted last February after nine years at the helm.

The party of Nelson Mandela suffered a bloody nose in 2016 local elections
when it won a record low of 54% of the vote and lost control of the major
cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria.

But a recent IPSOS survey predicted that the ANC could garner as much as
61% of the vote in May’s national and provincial elections.

The forecast upswing is pinned on the appointment of moderate pro-
business reformer Cyril Ramaphosa as