PRETORIA: The ruling African National Congress (ANC) swept toward victory in South Africa’s fifth post-apartheid election yesterday, handing President Jacob Zuma the clout to push through pro-business reforms in the face of union and leftist opposition.
Burdened with sluggish economic growth and damaging strikes in his first term, the scandal-plagued Zuma has devoted less and less time over the last year to the wishes of unions, whose long walkouts have hit confidence in Africa’s most developed economy.
The ANC, the liberation movement that swept to power two decades ago under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, had won 63.7 percent of Wednesday’s vote with nearly two-thirds of districts counted, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said.
Zuma hinted this week that the ANC needed to take a more pro-business tack, accusing the main platinum union of irresponsibility for dragging out a four-month wage strike, and he hinted at reforms in the pipeline.
“We need an overwhelming majority so that we can change certain things so that we can move faster,” Zuma told a news conference.
“There are things you need to remove so you can move faster. I won’t be specific.”
One influential minister said the ANC would focus on policies adopted at a 2012 leadership conference, when it rejected “wholesale nationalisation” of industries and sought to quell investor concerns with business-friendly pronouncements.
AFP
