ANC election campaign could benefit from 30 years of democracy celebration, says analyst
Wits University’s Professor Susan Booysen said on Monday that the ANC could still win an outright majority at the polls.
Booysen addressed an election dialogue on coalitions hosted by the Human Sciences Research Council.
The ANC entered election season on the back foot due to rampant crime and corruption, load shedding and erratic water supply in several parts of the country.
This has led to some analysts predicting that the ANC could fall below 50% nationally, forcing it to enter into a coalition agreement to stay in power.
The party has since deployed its heavyweights to join the campaign trail in the country's nine provinces.
This includes former deputy president David Mabuza, former President Kgalema Motlanthe and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and former National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete.
Booysen said the 30 years of democracy celebrations in the run-up to the May 29 elections could benefit the ANC.
"There is still a possibility, although I think it’s a small possibility, that the ANC can make that 50% level. We have seen public opinion polls are not good, but some of the opinion polls are not good.
"There is a very powerful election campaign. That does mean there is a possibility that they can reach 50%. The ANC has featured strongly in the 30 years of democracy celebration, where every bit of celebration that we have, justifiably of that milestone in SA history, is also articulating beautifully, with the ANC's election campaign.”
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