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South Africa elections: ANC and Jacob Zuma face test | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
South Africans are voting in local elections seen as a test for President Jacob Zuma and the ruling African National Congress. | |
The ANC has dominated the political landscape since the first all-race elections in 1994. | The ANC has dominated the political landscape since the first all-race elections in 1994. |
But Mr Zuma has had to weather scandal, after being ordered to repay taxpayers' money spent on his private home. | But Mr Zuma has had to weather scandal, after being ordered to repay taxpayers' money spent on his private home. |
Polls show the ANC may lose three key cities in Wednesday's poll - Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. | Polls show the ANC may lose three key cities in Wednesday's poll - Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. |
ANC under pressure | |
The ANC, which led the fight against white minority rule, is under pressure from two parties - the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters, who are competing in their first local elections under firebrand leader Julius Malema. | |
The economy is one of the main issues as people vote, with growth expected to be 0% this year, and unemployment at 27%. | The economy is one of the main issues as people vote, with growth expected to be 0% this year, and unemployment at 27%. |
Protests demanding better housing and amenities have also sprung up across South Africa. | Protests demanding better housing and amenities have also sprung up across South Africa. |
The vote comes a month after South Africa's treasury recommended President Zuma pay back $509,000 (£381,000) to the government for upgrades made to his private home. | The vote comes a month after South Africa's treasury recommended President Zuma pay back $509,000 (£381,000) to the government for upgrades made to his private home. |
It came after the country's highest court ruled earlier this year that Mr Zuma repay some of the $23m of public funds spent on his house in 2009, ruling that he had violated the constitution by earlier failing to repay some of the money. | It came after the country's highest court ruled earlier this year that Mr Zuma repay some of the $23m of public funds spent on his house in 2009, ruling that he had violated the constitution by earlier failing to repay some of the money. |
The upgrades included an amphitheatre, pool, chicken run and cattle enclosure. | The upgrades included an amphitheatre, pool, chicken run and cattle enclosure. |
The next presidential elections are due to take place in 2019. | The next presidential elections are due to take place in 2019. |