South Africa\u2019s ruling African National Congress is unlikely to win a majority in Johannesburg, the nation\u2019s largest city, or the capital Pretoria in forthcoming municipal elections, a News24 poll showed.<\/p>\n
The ANC\u2019s support in Johannesburg could fall to 41% if half of eligible voters turn out for the Nov. 1 elections, News24 reported, citing the poll it commissioned. The main opposition Democratic Alliance would get 25%. The ANC received 45% in the 2016 elections, and the DA 38%.<\/p>\n
In Tshwane, which includes Pretoria, the ANC would get 46% and the DA 26%.<\/p>\n
The polling suggests coalitions will need to be formed to run Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, the third-largest metropolitan area in Gauteng province, the nation\u2019s economic hub. The DA looks set to retain control of Cape Town with slightly reduced support.<\/p>\n
A poor showing for the ANC in Johannesburg or Tshwane would be a blow to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is trying to regain the confidence of voters after years of corruption-prone governance under his predecessor Jacob Zuma.<\/p>\n
The outcome in key cities could be a pointer of how voters are likely to express themselves at the next general election in 2024, according to Ralph Mathekga, an independent political analyst.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ANC is clearly on the back foot and they are expecting a loss,\u201d Mathekga said by phone. \u201cThey are at their weakest point and it means that they are going to get even weaker. It tells a lot of what\u2019s coming at the next national elections.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the ANC has governed South Africa nationally since the country\u2019s first multiracial elections in 1994, it hemorrhaged support in the last municipal vote five years ago in a backlash against Zuma\u2019s rule. It lost control of Johannesburg and Tshwane in 2016, though it has since regained power in the former.<\/p>\n
The polling done by Victory Research on behalf of News24 sampled 1,824 registered voters between Oct. 4 and Oct. 15, with a margin of error of 2.3%.<\/p>\n