Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the United Nations, emphasizing the need to challenge “might is right” world order.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the country’s next municipal elections will take place on November 4. The local government vote, held every five years, serves as a barometer of public sentiment. Historically, Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) has struggled in municipal polls as voters use the ballot box to vent deep frustrations over deteriorating public infrastructure. During the last municipal elections in 2021, the ANC’s vote share dropped below 50% for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994. That historic decline proved to be a bellwether for the 2024 national elections, which ultimately saw the ANC lose its long-held parliamentary majority. The upcoming elections provide an opportunity for opposition parties and independent local coalitions to notch more wins against the ANC. In the long term, the results could redefine coalition politics, influence municipal spending priorities, and determine whether the ANC can rebuild trust among South Africans.
CNBC Africa