advertisement

South Africa's ruling party wins Johannesburg in narrow race

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - South Africa's ruling party has won a narrow victory in the country's largest city, Johannesburg, in municipal elections amid its worst-ever showing at the polls.

The African National Congress won Johannesburg but lost the Tshwane metro area that includes the capital, Pretoria, in results announced Saturday evening.

The opposition Democratic Alliance made a strong expansion from its stronghold in the city of Cape Town. It won in Tshwane and in another major municipality, Nelson Mandela Bay.

The losses have threatened a generation of dominance for the ANC, the former anti-apartheid movement that took power at the end of white-minority rule.

Leader of the official opposition Democratic Alliance Mmusi Maimane talks to the press at the election results center in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. Since South Africa's first all-race election in 1994, the African National Congress party has had widespread support on the strength of its successful fight against white-minority rule. But this is its worst-ever election showing after corruption scandals and a stagnant economy that has frustrated the urban middle class. "The tide in our country is turning," the leader of the leading opposition party says.(AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
Protesters hold up papers protesting against President Jacob Zuma, at podium as he delivers a speech at the announcement of the results of the municipal elections in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. The protest refers to Zuma's acquittal for rape in 2006. (AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
Protesters hold up papers protesting against South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, as he delivers a speech at the announcement of the results of the municipal elections in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. South Africa's ruling party has suffered its biggest election setback since taking power at the end of apartheid a generation ago, with the African National Congress losing in the Tshwane metropolitan area that includes the country's capital, Pretoria. But it held a slight lead Saturday in the country's biggest city, Johannesburg, with 99 percent of votes counted. (AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
President Jacob Zuma, attends the declaration announcement of the municipal elections in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. This is the worst-ever election showing for South Africa's ruling party, The African National Congress (ANC), after corruption scandals and a stagnant economy that has frustrated the urban middle class. (AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
Leader of the official opposition Democratic Alliance Mmusi Maimane talks to the press at the election results center in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. Since South Africa's first all-race election in 1994, the African National Congress party has had widespread support on the strength of its successful fight against white-minority rule. But this is its worst-ever election showing after corruption scandals and a stagnant economy that has frustrated the urban middle class. "The tide in our country is turning," the leader of the leading opposition party says.(AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
Protesters hold up papers protesting against President Jacob Zuma, right, being led away at the announcement of the results of the municipal elections in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. The protest refers to Zuma's acquittal for rape in 2006. (AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
Protesters hold up papers protesting against South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, as he delivers a speech at the announcement of the results of the municipal elections in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. South Africa's ruling party has suffered its biggest election setback since taking power at the end of apartheid a generation ago, with the African National Congress losing in the Tshwane metropolitan area that includes the country's capital, Pretoria. But it held a slight lead Saturday in the country's biggest city, Johannesburg, with 99 percent of votes counted. (AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
President Jacob Zuma, attends the declaration announcement of the municipal elections in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. This is the worst-ever election showing for South Africa's ruling party, The African National Congress (ANC), after corruption scandals and a stagnant economy that has frustrated the urban middle class. (AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
Protesters hold up papers protesting against South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, as he delivers a speech at the announcement of the results of the municipal elections in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. South Africa's ruling party has suffered its biggest election setback since taking power at the end of apartheid a generation ago, with the African National Congress losing in the Tshwane metropolitan area that includes the country's capital, Pretoria. But it held a slight lead Saturday in the country's biggest city, Johannesburg, with 99 percent of votes counted. (AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
Leader of the official opposition Democratic Alliance Mmusi Maimane talks to the press at the election results center in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. Since South Africa's first all-race election in 1994, the African National Congress party has had widespread support on the strength of its successful fight against white-minority rule. But this is its worst-ever election showing after corruption scandals and a stagnant economy that has frustrated the urban middle class. "The tide in our country is turning," the leader of the leading opposition party says.(AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
Leader of the official opposition Democratic Alliance Mmusi Maimane talks to the press at the election results center in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. Since South Africa's first all-race election in 1994, the African National Congress party has had widespread support on the strength of its successful fight against white-minority rule. But this is its worst-ever election showing after corruption scandals and a stagnant economy that has frustrated the urban middle class. "The tide in our country is turning," the leader of the leading opposition party says.(AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
Leader of the official opposition Democratic Alliance Mmusi Maimane talks to the press at the election results center in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. Since South Africa's first all-race election in 1994, the African National Congress party has had widespread support on the strength of its successful fight against white-minority rule. But this is its worst-ever election showing after corruption scandals and a stagnant economy that has frustrated the urban middle class. "The tide in our country is turning," the leader of the leading opposition party says.(AP Photo/Herman Verwey) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.