President Cyril Ramaphosa has stepped up his campaigning in South Africa as the country prepares for May 29 national and provincial elections. He has pledged to place more of an emphasis on economic revival, welfare reform, and job creation. These elections are seen as crucial because of the possibility that the African National Congress (ANC) could lose its position as the ruling party for the first time since apartheid ended.
Speaking to a large gathering of supporters at a soccer stadium in Soweto dressed in the ANC’s striking yellow, green, and black colors, President Ramaphosa reaffirmed his commitment to attending to the urgent needs of the South African people. “To announce that together, we will accomplish more and do better, we are here carrying with us with the dreams and aspirations of millions of our people,” Ramaphosa stated, emphasizing his pledge to improve the current state of affairs in the nation.
The forthcoming elections hold great significance, given the current climate of high public discontent caused by ongoing joblessness, economic stagnation, and corruption scandals. The ANC has been a political mainstay since Nelson Mandela led the party to power in 1994 following the end of apartheid, but these problems have significantly reduced popular trust in the organization.
Ramaphosa listed the key objectives of his government during his nationally televised campaign speech. These included expanding employment possibilities, tackling the high cost of living, preserving social grants, and providing a basic income support grant for the unemployed. Many South Africans are facing financial strains, and these programs are meant to help, especially those who have been most affected by inflation and unemployment.
In Soweto, Meshack Jantjie, a 31-year-old unemployed citizen, expressed his continued support for the ANC, driven by his belief in Ramaphosa’s job creation strategy. “The ANC must do the right thing. We don’t have jobs. No money. We need to eat,” Jantjie told Reuters, stating the urgency of the situation for many.
The ANC’s enduring struggle with corruption and its inability to fully deliver on the promises of empowerment and prosperity since the end of white minority rule have significantly impacted its popularity. These problems are strongly felt among voters like Jantjie, who are desperate for tangible change.
In the meantime, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema is taking advantage of the weaknesses in the ANC. Speaking to his supporters in the province of Limpopo, Malema compared his party to the African National Congress (ANC) and pledged strong opposition to corruption and unemployment as well as efficient governance and economic prosperity. Former ANC youth leader Malema has positioned the EFF and himself as a radical challenge to the established political class, pushing for nationalization of several important companies and land redistribution from White farmers to Black people.
Young people and low-income Black South Africans who feel left out and ignored by the current political system are particularly drawn to Malema. Support for the EFF is at 11.5%, according to a recent Ipsos poll, indicating a rising dissatisfaction with the existing quo and a readiness among voters, especially young ones, to embrace more radical solutions.
