Pretoria
The African National Congress won South Africa’s general election last week with an overwhelming 70 percent of the vote, increasing its dominance in parliament for the third straight vote. Since parliament elects the president, the landslide guarantees President Thabo Mbeki a second five-year term. During the campaign, opposition parties argued that single-party dominance was bad for democracy, but voters evidently did not agree. The nearest challenger, the white-led Democratic Alliance, got just 13 percent, while the National Party, which ruled the country during the apartheid era, tallied less than 2 percent.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
‘How can I know these words originated in their heart and not some data center in northern Virginia?’instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Can Trump deliver a farmer bailout in time?Today's Big Question Planting decisions and food prices hang in the balance
-
Tips for seizing control of your digital well-beingThe Week Recommends A handy mix of technology and self-motivation
