Wednesday 29 May 2024
Islamabad (Urdu Point. DW Urdu. May 29, 2024) Polling for parliamentary elections in South Africa began on Wednesday morning across the country and long queues of voters were seen at many polling centers. According to all political polls, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is in danger of losing its majority for the first time since 1994.
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This ancient party was founded by the country's father of the nation, Nelson Mandela, who has ruled for many years.
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"I'm very excited to be here," Agnes Ngobeni, 76, who was queuing to vote, told AFP news agency.
That's why I woke up so early. I have to vote for the party I love, which has made me who I am today."
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Asked who she was supporting, her answer was, of course, the ANC: "It's a very old party that has always been with us.
I don't like new people."
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In contrast, 41-year-old Danvers Mbasa, an unemployed voter, said he wanted change. "Traveled a long way to get here so at least I can vote myself and look forward to it," he said. We have no jobs, no water, nothing is working.
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Resentment from the ruling ANC party
The African National Congress (ANC) has ruled South Africa continuously since the country's first democratic elections in 1994, but this time it is in danger of losing its majority.
According to opinion polls, the ANC could get less than 50 percent of the vote, forcing it to form a coalition to form a government.
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The public is dissatisfied with the ruling party as the unemployment rate has reached 32.9 percent as the country's economy weakens. The country is struggling with poverty, ailing state-owned companies, constant power cuts and failing water supplies.
The health care system is also dilapidated and the crime rate is on the rise.
These elections are also being seen as more important because the independence leader and then President Nelson Mandela put the country on the path to democracy in 1994 and established the NC.
Candidates of 52 parties are competing for four hundred parliamentary seats. New provincial governments will also be elected under these elections.
Of the nearly 40 million eligible voters, 27.4 million, or about 68 percent, have registered to vote.
Polling will be open from 7 am to 9 pm local time. After that, the newly elected parliament will have to form a new government and then elect the president of the country. Election results are expected by Sunday.
(AP, DPA)
