insert_link South Africa Seven people have died following heavy rains and localised flooding in the Eastern Cape Seven people have died while four are missing following heavy rains and localised flooding in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro in the Eastern Cape. More than 500 people have been relocated to areas including Korea, Qunu, Daku, and Moolerground. The destructive rains have affected the power supply to several areas within Gqeberha, including the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport. The metro says multiple rescue operations remain underway, with teams activated […] todayJune 3, 2024 9
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s Electoral Commission has declared the 2024 general elections as free and fair South Africa's Electoral Commission has declared the 2024 general elections as free and fair. The voter turnout for these elections was 58.61-percent, much lower than the 66-percent in 2019. Over 16-million votes were cast. Speaking at the result announcement in Midrand yesterday evening, IEC CEO, Sy Mamabolo, says in an election the choice of the voter is sovereign and may not be negated. He adds that the voters who cast […] todayJune 3, 2024 27
insert_link South Africa ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the ANC has nothing to celebrate as it lost its majority ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, says the ANC has nothing to celebrate as it lost its majority for the first time in 30 years, marking a new political path for South Africa. However, Mbalula claims the ANC remains the most popular party with over six million votes and a majority in five provinces. He thanked supporters and emphasised that the results prove the need to intensify the party's renewal efforts: todayJune 3, 2024 41
insert_link South Africa Research Shows Load-Shedding Negatively Affects Employment and Earnings in South Africa Load-shedding has negative labour market effects on employment, working hours, and monthly earnings. This is according to research conducted by the University of Cape Town under the South Africa Towards Inclusive Development programme. On average, load-shedding periods were associated with a 2.6-percent lower chance of being employed, 1.3-percent fewer working hours per week, and 1.7-percent lower real monthly earnings. UCT’s Tim Köhler says from a policymaking perspective, the primary […] todayMay 31, 2024 33
insert_link South Africa Preliminary results show the ANC was leading with 41.94-percent Preliminary results from the Electoral Commission showed the ANC was leading with 41.94-percent after 61.16-percent of the votes were processed. The DA followed with 22.97-percent while the MK Party was on 11.66-percent. The EFF and the IFP are among the top five nationally, with 9.52- and 2.85-percent respectively. todayMay 31, 2024 17
insert_link South Africa The DA leader labels the election handling a dog’s breakfast The DA has strongly criticised the Electoral Commission of South Africa for its handling of the elections. Addressing the media at the results centre in Midrand, DA leader John Steenhuisen condemned the long queues and inefficiencies, citing broken promises to improve since the 2021 local government elections which cost the party Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape. Steenhuisen pledged to hold the IEC accountable to prevent a repeat […] todayMay 31, 2024 19
insert_link South Africa S.Africa set for political shake-up after historic vote By Umberto BACCHI Johannesburg, May 31, 2024 (AFP) - South Africa's ruling ANC was on track to score its worst electoral result ever on Friday, with early tallies showing voters deserted the party in droves, ending its 30-year political dominance. If the African National Congress (ANC) is confirmed as dropping below 50 percent of the vote, it would force the party to seek coalition partners to […] todayMay 31, 2024 8
insert_link South Africa ANC set to lose majority after watershed vote By Umberto BACCHI with Zama LUTHULI in Durban South Africa's ruling ANC was on course to lose its 30-year-old unchallenged majority on Thursday after voters queued long into the night to cast their ballots, preliminary results and projections showed. With a fifth of votes tallied, the ANC was leading but with a score of 44 percent -- well down on the 57 percent it […] todayMay 30, 2024 26
insert_link South Africa Power cuts have hit South Africa’s labour market hard: the biggest toll has been on jobs – new research By Haroon Bhorat, University of Cape Town and Timothy Köhler Access to electricity – measured by the share of individuals who use electricity as their main energy source – has significantly improved in lower-income countries in recent decades. Thanks to large-scale rural electrification and infrastructure development programmes, 90% of the population in these countries had access by 2021, up from about 74% at the turn […] todayMay 30, 2024 23