South Africa's general elections to choose a new parliament, which will then elect a new president, will be held on May 29, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday.
Endemic unemployment, growing poverty and growing inequalities in this country of some 62 million inhabitants are fueling growing discontent which could be reflected at the ballot box.
According to opinion polls, the African National Congress (ANC), in power since the country's first democratic elections in 1994, could for the first time lose its absolute majority in parliament and find itself forced to form a coalition government.
The image of this 110-year-old formation is damaged by corruption cases, cronyism and a poor economic record.
The ANC is due to present its program at a major rally planned for Saturday at Durban Stadium.
“Celebrating our journey”
“Beyond the fulfillment of our constitutional obligation, these upcoming elections are also a celebration of our democratic journey and the determination to (choose) the future we want
,” declared Cyril Ramaphosa.
“I call on all South Africans to exercise their democratic right to vote and all those who campaign to do so peacefully, in full compliance with the law
,” he added.
The main opposition party, the liberal Democratic Alliance (DA), already launched its election campaign last weekend.
DA leader John Steenhuisen has promised to create two million jobs, end the energy crisis and reduce crime in South Africa, one of the most dangerous countries in the world with almost 84 murders per year. day recorded in the last three months of 2023. Some polls show the DA neck and neck with the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party for second place behind the ANC.
John Steehuisen recently ruled out the possibility of a coalition with the ANC, saying he wanted to
“oust”
the ruling party.
Some 27.5 million South Africans registered to vote are expected to vote in the general elections.