South Africa elections 2024: President Ramaphosa faces challenging reelection

South Africa has a history of apartheid, a system of racial segregation. The African National Congress (ANC) played a key role in ending apartheid. However, the effects of apartheid still impact the country today. One major issue is unemployment, especially among young people. The Eastern Cape, where Nelson Mandela was born, has the highest unemployment rate at 42.4%. In contrast, the Western Cape, home to Cape Town, has the lowest rate at 21.4%. Education also plays a big role in unemployment. People with higher education levels have lower unemployment rates. However, many Black South Africans lack access to education. This leads to a mismatch between job skills and what employers need. Crime is another challenge in South Africa. The country has high rates of violent crimes like murder and carjackings. This contributes to the country's reputation as one of the most unequal in the world. Access to basic services like water is also an issue. While most homes have piped water, some areas still face regular cuts. Despite these challenges, the current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is expected to win re-election. The ANC, the party of Nelson Mandela, has been in power since the end of apartheid. However, its popularity has declined in recent years. If the ANC loses its majority in the upcoming election, it may need to form a coalition government to keep Ramaphosa as president. South Africa's political landscape has been dominated by the ANC for decades. Nelson Mandela, the country's first Black president, led the ANC to power. Ramaphosa, the current president, faces challenges like high unemployment and crime. The upcoming election will determine if the ANC can maintain its grip on power or if a new political era will begin in South Africa.