This week, voters in South Africa will give the ruling ANC its lowest-ever share of the national tally.
The party’s three-decade rule has been so dominant that its failures have become those of the country: the power grid is stuttering; crime and corruption are growth industries; unemployment is unfathomably high; and the economy is plodding along far behind its peers.
But despite its manifest failures and with 70 political parties and 11 independent candidates also standing, the ANC will likely still form the government and pick the president.
Thank you, next: A man waves the flag, calling vacant land squatters to a meeting.
Supporters of the new Rise Mzansi party gather for a community meeting. Photo: Marco Longari/AFP
Chain reaction: An uMkhonto we Sizwe supporter protests against the court ruling that declared ex-president Jacob Zuma ineligible to stand in the elections. Photo: Marco Longari/AFP
Code red: A crowd welcomes the Economic Freedom Fighters party president Julius Malema in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal. Photo: Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images
Playing the field: A band of musicians roll out their top brass as they wait to perform at a campaign rally in Cape Town. Photo: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP
Couch to MK: A supporter of the ANC meets with members of the uMkhonto we Sizwe party in Munsieville near Krugersdorp. Photo: Emmanuel Croset/AFP
In the middle, Cyril: President Cyril Ramaphosa out on the stump during an ANC door-to-door canvassing tour of Ekurhuleni. Photo: Olympia de Maismont/AFP
Neighbourhood watch: A supporter of the African Congress for Transformation looks over other parties’ election posters in Sharpeville. Photo: Olympia de Maismont/AFP
