South Africa set for pivotal election

The ruling African National Congress may lose its parliamentary majority for the first time since Nelson Mandela swept to power after the end of apartheid 30 years ago
    
Support*  

40.2% 
African National Congress (ANC) 
Led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, its support has dwindled in recent years due to stubbornly high unemployment, persistent inequality, allegations of corruption and rampant crime

21.9% 
Democratic Alliance (DA) 
Pro-business party led by John Steenhuisen, wants to scrap ANC’s Black empowerment scheme in favour of policies focused on reducing poverty regardless of skin colour

11.5%
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) 
Led by Julius Malema, party presents itself as Marxist, advocating nationalisation
of industries and land redistribution to redress racial economic imbalances

8.4%                                                               
uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) 
Newly formed party boosted by endorsement of former president Jacob Zuma, who has fallen out with ANC. MK could make strong showing in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal

Other parties include socially conservative Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), led by Velenkosini Hlabisa, and ActionSA, led by former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba
  
Parties and candidates seek election to 400-seat National Assembly under proportional representation system


*Ipsos poll of 2,545 respondents, conducted Mar 9-Apr 15. Margin of error ± 1.9 points
 

Sources: Reuters, BBC, FT 
Pictures: Getty Images 
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