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South Africa: ANC Has Tried 'as Best it Can' to Solve African People's Problems, Expert Says

© AP PhotoAfrican National Congress (ANC) Party supporters react as the African National Congress party celebrate its 111th anniversary, January 8, 2023
African National Congress (ANC) Party supporters react as the African National Congress party celebrate its 111th anniversary, January 8, 2023 - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 31.05.2024
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On Wednesday, South Africa held general elections. According to preliminary results, the country's African National Congress got 41,84% of the votes, the National Electoral Commission said.
The South African party, the African National Congress (ANC), has tried "as best it can" to solve African people's problems, Oscar van Heerden, senior research fellow at the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership at the country's University of Johannesburg, told Sputnik Africa.
The main three challenges that South Africa faces are high unemployment, inequality and poverty, the expert noted.

"All parties, in some form, shape, are trying to address those," he said, commenting on the ongoing elections.

Opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, casts his vote at a polling station in Polokwane, South Africa, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 30.05.2024
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Under the leadership of the country's incumbent leader, Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC has taken multiple measures, trying to "root out elements of corruption, both in the party but also in government," van Heerden said.
Among those are "strengthening law enforcement agencies, giving more money to the police, [...] signing into law an investigative arm of the National Prosecuting Authority, giving more money to our courts to prosecute faster, and so on and so forth," the expert noted.
Commenting on the party's views on foreign policy, he stressed that the ANC, even if in a coalition, would not compromise on its imperatives in this field, which include maintaining BRICS membership.
After processing 66,04% of the votes, the National Electoral Commission revealed that the ANC received 41,84% of the votes; the country's Democratic Alliance party – 23.67%; South African party, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) – 10.98%; the Economic Freedom Fighters party – 9.55%.
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