Africa Top Success Ils font l'Afrique
In his first public short speech after the announcement of the official results giving ANC a comfortable majority (62,15 %) in the general elections, the South African president Jacob Zuma dedicated on Saturday evening the victory of ANC (in the power) to the former president, Nelson Mandela, died on 5th December 2013 at 95 years old.
« We dedicate our victory to the memory of Madiba. We make commitment to continue his legacy », declared Mr Zuma.
The current president made this statement 20 years ago when Mandela became the first Black president of South Africa.
« The victory also confirms that ANC remains the only hope for the majority of our people, poor people and working class in particular », added Mr Zuma, for whom, this victory confered to ANC that was the party of Mr Mandela, a « crushing duty ». The 5th victory of ANC since the end of apartheid regime.
The ballot gave a net majority with 249 seats over 400 to ANC.
Behind ANC, the main party of opposition, came the Democratic Alliance (DA, liberal) with 22,22 % of votes, (89 seats). The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the new radical party of the young tribune Julius Malema, did much better than expected with 6,35 %, widely exceeding the symbolic bar of million votes.
The 26 other parties listed for the general elections shared less than 10 % of votes. In the 4th position, came the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) of the Zulu leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, with 2,40 %.
According to certain observers, the nostalgia towards the « father of the nation » doubtless motivated the electorate in spite of various scandals and the very difficult social condition.
Some thousand ANC partisans gathered in front of the head office of the party in Johannesburg to celebrate the victory.
Original text by: Blaise AKAME
