South Africa’s political landscape heats up as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) accuses the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), of seeking foreign interference in the upcoming May elections.
The ANC claims to have seen a letter sent by the DA to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and European foreign ministers requesting their involvement in the South African elections. The ANC views this as an attempt to undermine the country’s sovereignty and manipulate the electoral process.
President Cyril Ramaphosa previously warned of a “regime-change agenda” from external forces, and the ANC believes the DA’s letter aligns with these concerns. They reject any notion that South Africa’s elections need foreign supervision, citing their “impeccable record” of free and fair elections.
While the ANC welcomes international dialogue, they draw a clear line: “We will not tolerate any attempts to undermine our democratic processes or manipulate our elections.”
The DA, on the other hand, highlights the potential for a historic shift in South Africa’s political landscape. They believe the ANC may lose its majority in parliament for the first time since Nelson Mandela led the party to power. This could significantly alter the power dynamics in the country.
The DA has requested a meeting with the US Embassy to discuss the “significant risks” they perceive leading up to the elections.