South African municipal elections: ANC weakened by popular discontent

Polling stations opened Wednesday in South Africa for municipal elections that pose a major challenge to the African National Congress (ANC), whose popularity has declined over the past decade. Economic hardship and failures in local administrations have fueled public discontent. Voters are choosing leaders for eight major metropolitan municipalities, 44 district councils and 205 local municipal councils. Johannesburg is a key battleground: plagued by water and electricity shortages and deteriorating infrastructure, it has had five mayors in four years and is currently governed by a fragile ANC-led coalition.