Analysts Warn ANC 50% Majority At Risk as Polls Show Weak Voter Sentiment

LOCAL NEWS

• Political analysts warns that ANC support is at risk of falling below 50% today for the first time since the ANC took power in 1994, with Eskom load-shedding and a poor service delivery track record plaguing the party.
  • A preliminary Ipsos poll showed the ANC with 49.3%, DA with 17.9% & EFF with 14.5%. No party is expected to win outright in Joburg, Pretoria & Tshwane – leading to a higher likelihood of coalitions. The ANC will be banking on Ramaphosa's popularity to bring in votes for the party.
  • Final results must be released within 7 days, but this is generally closer to 3-4 days
• eNCA poll shows the ANC receiving 43.4% of the vote (vs 54% prior), DA 24% (vs 26.9% prior) & EFF 14.8% (vs 4.3% prior) as the biggest winner of the lot. Media 24 also ran a poll that saw ANC at 52-56%, DA 19-23% & EFF 10-14%. There has also been a 42% increase in independent candidates from 2016
• IEC notes 83% voter turnout over the weekend in the two days of special voting for the local general elections – in total 26.2m people have registered to vote. Voting today starts at 700am and ends at 2100pm.
  • Police & the 100,000 deployed soldiers have been placed on high alert in hotspot areas in KZN & other provinces to ensure elections remain safe.