Seven opposition parties in South Africa have reached an agreement to form a coalition in a bid to unseat the ruling African National Congress if it fails to win a majority in next year's general election.
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Seven opposition parties in South Africa reached an agreement Thursday to form a coalition to unseat the ruling African National Congress if it fails to gain an outright majority in next year’s general election.
But its support has slowly waned over the years amid criticism that it has failed to provide basic services and ease poverty for millions of the country’s Black majority.
South Africa’s other problems include the highest levels of unemployment in the world, a failing electricity supply that’s led to regular blackouts, a broken public transport system and very high violent crime rates.
Opposition parties hope they might be able to form a majority in Parliament if they cobble all their votes together, although they will have to agree to back one candidate for president.
Prof. William Gumede, who chaired the Kempton Park meeting, said the parties agreed on a range of issues, including principles of power sharing, appointment of individuals to government positions and the structure of a possible Cabinet.
Several coalition governments at city level, including in the economic hub of Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria, have collapsed.
The original article contains 634 words, the summary contains 186 words. Saved 71%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Seven opposition parties in South Africa reached an agreement Thursday to form a coalition to unseat the ruling African National Congress if it fails to gain an outright majority in next year’s general election.
But its support has slowly waned over the years amid criticism that it has failed to provide basic services and ease poverty for millions of the country’s Black majority.
South Africa’s other problems include the highest levels of unemployment in the world, a failing electricity supply that’s led to regular blackouts, a broken public transport system and very high violent crime rates.
Opposition parties hope they might be able to form a majority in Parliament if they cobble all their votes together, although they will have to agree to back one candidate for president.
Prof. William Gumede, who chaired the Kempton Park meeting, said the parties agreed on a range of issues, including principles of power sharing, appointment of individuals to government positions and the structure of a possible Cabinet.
Several coalition governments at city level, including in the economic hub of Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria, have collapsed.
The original article contains 634 words, the summary contains 186 words. Saved 71%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!