South Africa General Elections Set For May 7
South Africa will hold general elections on May 7, a milestone,in the country’s democracy 20-years after the end of white minority rule, the President said on Friday.
This will be the first election since the death of anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela, the first black president who brought hope to millions whose human rights were violated during the white rule.
Mandela’s former party, the ruling African National Congress is the favorite to win the elections, but its popularity has slipped due to high unemployment, corruption scandals, and insufficient government services and infrastructure.
Frustrated residents took to the streets in cities outside the nation’s capital, Pretoria, complaining that they are sick of empty promises and a government that is only interested in them for campaigning purposes.
“We’ve been on the waiting list, on the promised land forever. When are we going to enter the Canaan that they were talking about, that our forefathers fought for,” a resident of Hebron near the capital said, referring to the Bible.
Ntombi Mekgwe, a provincial official says South Africa’s province of Gauteng has seen about 50 protests over lack of government services this year alone, causing millions of dollars in damage.
In some places, rioters denounced the African National Congress, as protesters demand that their basic necessities be met, such as lower prices for utilities and clean water.
South Aftican President Jacob Zuma — who will likely run for a second term — said the election is an opportunity to continue Nelson Mandela’s legacy and urged people to register to vote this weekend, the last chance to do so ahead of the election.
The government claims it has build more than 3 million houses in the past two decades, benefiting more than 16 million people; the number of people receiving social grants has increased from 3 million to 16 million during that period; and about 92 percent of South Africans have access to potable water, compared to 60 percent in 1996.
However, other problems that persist in South Africa include poor education and a lack of skilled workers. The official unemployment rate is about 25 percent.
The South African President is not a popular figure and many question his character. This was evident during Nelson Mandela’s public memorial service, which was televised all around the world and attended by about 100 foreign dignitaries, including President Obama.
Zuma was booed in front of the live audience and later had to explain how the fake sign language interpreter was able to get close to so many high profile leaders when they came to pay homage to the late President Mandela.
Another issue that angered people was the revelation that the government paid the South African President $21 million in order to renovate his rural home, when many believe Zuma is not doing enough to improve their living conditions.
