Freddy Gray Freddy Gray

Will South Africa reject the ANC?

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen speaks to supporters (Getty Images)

After many years in power, a corrupt and inept government is finally close to being removed. There is no great confidence in the opposition — but the people have had enough of seeing their country ruined and are finally having their say.

No, I’m not talking about Britain and the Conservative party but South Africa, where the ANC looks as if it might be close to losing power after almost three decades of one-party rule.

Very high turnout for other parties is understood to have perhaps caused the African National Congress, the party of Nelson Mandela, to fall below 50 per cent of the vote for the first time. It’s currently on 43 per cent, according to the early results. This may force the ANC to power share.

The leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, which is led by a white man called John Steenhuisen, is still quite far behind on around 26 per cent of the vote.

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