South African voters put ANC to test

JOHANNESBURG – South Africans cast ballots in local elections yesterday that the African National Congress is set to win despite a campaign marked by protests from the poor demanding housing and basic services.

While the ANC has cruised from victory to victory in elections since it swept to power at the end of apartheid in 1994, it has faced an unprecedented level of voter anger in the campaign and at least one survey has indicated that its majority will be reduced in the big cities. Africa’s oldest liberation movement has come under fire from South Africans in townships and slums who feel the government has failed to make good on its promises to provide housing, water, electricity and sanitation in areas deprived of such services under apartheid.President Thabo Mbeki, who campaigned energetically in the runup to the vote, visiting townships and poor areas, was among the first to cast his ballot in Pretoria after the polls opened at 7 am.”I hope that all our people, all 21 million will come out to vote because we need a very strong and legitimate local government,” said Mbeki, who cast his ballot in a marquee set up in a Pretoria park.At a Johannesburg voting station, 36-year-old domestic worker Refilwe said she was casting her ballot with the hope that her living conditions will improve.”I am voting today because they say things will get better after the vote but up to now, they have been promising and promising, but they don’t keep their promises,” she said.In the Cape Town township of Langa, where protests turned to rioting last year over lack of services, voters queued under cloudy skies in the chilly early morning in front of polling stations.”This is a right we can’t take for granted.We have many problems with the government like lack of housing and sanitation but I’m voting for national pride,” said 50-year-old Nontsikelelo Dlamini.As early morning voting appeared to start off smoothly, attention turned to the flashpoint town of Khutsong, north of Johannesburg, where a boycott was called to protest a boundary change that residents say will result in few services.Police were out in force in Khutsong following months of rioting with armoured cars posted at polling stations and two police helicopters hovering over the township of about 34 000.The ANC has also been badly shaken over Mbeki’s decision to fire deputy president Jacob Zuma, who is on trial for rape and has also been charged with corruption.- Nampa-AFPAfrica’s oldest liberation movement has come under fire from South Africans in townships and slums who feel the government has failed to make good on its promises to provide housing, water, electricity and sanitation in areas deprived of such services under apartheid.President Thabo Mbeki, who campaigned energetically in the runup to the vote, visiting townships and poor areas, was among the first to cast his ballot in Pretoria after the polls opened at 7 am.”I hope that all our people, all 21 million will come out to vote because we need a very strong and legitimate local government,” said Mbeki, who cast his ballot in a marquee set up in a Pretoria park.At a Johannesburg voting station, 36-year-old domestic worker Refilwe said she was casting her ballot with the hope that her living conditions will improve.”I am voting today because they say things will get better after the vote but up to now, they have been promising and promising, but they don’t keep their promises,” she said.In the Cape Town township of Langa, where protests turned to rioting last year over lack of services, voters queued under cloudy skies in the chilly early morning in front of polling stations.”This is a right we can’t take for granted.We have many problems with the government like lack of housing and sanitation but I’m voting for national pride,” said 50-year-old Nontsikelelo Dlamini.As early morning voting appeared to start off smoothly, attention turned to the flashpoint town of Khutsong, north of Johannesburg, where a boycott was called to protest a boundary change that residents say will result in few services.Police were out in force in Khutsong following months of rioting with armoured cars posted at polling stations and two police helicopters hovering over the township of about 34 000.The ANC has also been badly shaken over Mbeki’s decision to fire deputy president Jacob Zuma, who is on trial for rape and has also been charged with corruption.- Nampa-AFP