S. Africa: Ruling ANC loosing support in Nelson Mandela Bay

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress is bearing the brunt of it’s president and head of state – President Jacob Zuma’s corruption allegations.

Only 30,000 of 110,000 expected voters pitched up to the ANC’s manifesto launch this weekend at Nelson Mandela Bay, in the Eastern Cape province.

The city is one of the hotly-contested regions in the elections, where the ANC has consistently lost support over the years to its main opposition – the Democratic Alliance.

ANC losing support in Nelson Mandela Bay heartland https://t.co/cv40JHONCV pic.twitter.com/wjlf5Jv1d3

— Eyewitness News (@ewnupdates) April 20, 2016

According to media reports, locals said they were disillusioned with the party and vowed not to attend the event. Voters said they would vote for the red beret Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) or the United Democratic Movement.

Speaking to Reuters reporters, 46-year-old Sacu said the ANC had not delivered on the things it had said it would.

“There is rubbish everywhere and there are no jobs for our children,” added Sacu, who was a youth member of the ANC during apartheid but does not intend to vote for them again.

ANC’s share of votes at the Nelson Mandela Bay slipped from 70 percent in 2004 to just over 50 percent at local polls in 2014 – perhaps a sign of challenges to come in the next local elections expected to take place in August this year.

ANC membership has also dwindled from over one million to just above 789,000 over the last couple of years,

AFP