The 18th of May this year saw local elections take place all across South Africa. The ANC, South Africa's ruling party post-apartheid, held firm and maintained its grip on most municipalities, with the obvious exeption of the Western Cape, an opposition stronghold, and some municipalities in the Northern Cape. Yet this election marked a significant rise in support for the Democratic Alliance, a party still viewed by many as a party for white liberals. It has so far been supported mainly by whites and coloureds (people of mixed ancestry). However, these local elections suggests that the DA is gaining increased support from the black majority population. The national results from the elections where as follows, with the old results from the 2006 election in parasentethis):
ANC: 62,0% (66,3)
DA: 23,9% (14,8)
IFP: 3,6% (8,1)
COPE: 2,1% (did not exist in 2006)
With the discontent over ANC maladministration seeming to be growing, the DA is aiming to use its record of service delivery and governance ( it rules the provinical goverment in the Western Cape since 2009) to woo over more voters. Recently, they revealed its ambitious plans to capture at least 30% of the national vote and win two more provinces in 2014. Gauteng, a black majority province as well as a major economic hub, is the boldest target. Dislodging it from the ANC:s grip would be difficult, bit if it succeeds it would be stinging blow to the ruling party.
Perhaps as a step towards aschieving this, the DA has elected a black man as regional chairman in its powerful Gauteng South Region: Futhermore, the BBC recently reported that the DA has just elected its first black leader of the parliamentary opposition, the intelligent and fierce Lindiwe Mazibuko.
Nothing is certain, except this: the coming years of political events in SA will be interesting to follow.
ANC: 62,0% (66,3)
DA: 23,9% (14,8)
IFP: 3,6% (8,1)
COPE: 2,1% (did not exist in 2006)
With the discontent over ANC maladministration seeming to be growing, the DA is aiming to use its record of service delivery and governance ( it rules the provinical goverment in the Western Cape since 2009) to woo over more voters. Recently, they revealed its ambitious plans to capture at least 30% of the national vote and win two more provinces in 2014. Gauteng, a black majority province as well as a major economic hub, is the boldest target. Dislodging it from the ANC:s grip would be difficult, bit if it succeeds it would be stinging blow to the ruling party.
Perhaps as a step towards aschieving this, the DA has elected a black man as regional chairman in its powerful Gauteng South Region: Futhermore, the BBC recently reported that the DA has just elected its first black leader of the parliamentary opposition, the intelligent and fierce Lindiwe Mazibuko.
Nothing is certain, except this: the coming years of political events in SA will be interesting to follow.
