Africa Integrity will shortly deploy a team to South Africa ahead of elections there on 7th May.  While the outcome of the elections – victory for the ruling ANC – is not in doubt, the polls are potentially pivotal. A significant reduction in the ANC’s vote-share will place increasing pressure on an already embattled President Zuma, perhaps with implications for his future as leader of the party.  Of particular interest will be the youth-vote, especially amongst first-time voters with no memories of the Apartheid era: this is the primary demographic sector in the sights of Julius Malema’s party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).  Also of concern to the ANC will be the opposition Democratic Alliance’s (DA) performance in the municipal elections, given that the DA (already in control of western Province) is leading the polls in Northern Cape and may rob the ANC of overall control in the all-important Gauteng Province.

Africa Integrity will provide clients and selected clients with analysis and commentary during the closing stages of the election campaign, based on de-briefs of well-placed sources and interviews with voters during its deployment to South Africa.  Others who have a particular interest in the South African are invited to contact us with a request to be added to the distribution list for this series of briefings.