00:00 He spent 27 years in prison, but in 1994, South Africa's most famous freedom fighter,
00:07 Nelson Mandela, became the country's first black president and the ANC, African National
00:14 Congress, came to power.
00:16 We are going forward. The march towards freedom and justice is irreversible.
00:27 Founded in 1912 but outlawed in 1960, the ANC's pivotal role in ending the brutally
00:33 racist apartheid regime earned the party profound allegiance from black South Africans as they
00:39 embarked on a new democratic chapter.
00:42 The ANC promised to reverse the injustices of white minority rule. More jobs, better
00:47 housing, education, access to land.
00:50 Since 1994, there's been some successes. More South Africans are going into education,
00:56 more million subsidised homes have been created for low-income families.
01:00 But after 30 years of ANC rule, South Africa still remains one of the world's most unequal
01:06 nations. The ANC says it's still battling historic inequality.
01:10 Our struggle to overcome the devastating economic and social legacy of apartheid and colonialism,
01:17 despite the severe challenges we now confront, we have the ability as the African National
01:23 Congress to turn things around.
01:27 Already 10 years ago, the ANC's political rivals squarely blamed the party for the country's
01:33 problems.
01:34 If our government was doing its work properly, the economy would be growing much faster to
01:39 create the jobs we need to tackle our biggest problem, which is unemployment and poverty.
01:47 South Africa is the continent's top economy and has huge potential. It's rich in minerals,
01:52 is a hub for African innovation and has a growing middle class.
01:56 But the ANC's face persistent accusations of mismanagement and endemic corruption.
02:01 Some of the most damaging scandals involve former President Jacob Zuma. He has been suspended
02:06 from the ANC, faces criminal charges over an allegedly corrupt 1999 arms deal and has
02:12 even spent time in prison.
02:13 Mr Zuma, you and your government don't represent me.
02:21 The ANC's former Speaker of Parliament and even its Secretary General have also faced
02:25 charges of graft.
02:26 And voters have become increasingly frustrated, discontent that is fanned by crippling blackouts
02:31 and water shortages caused by ailing infrastructure.
02:35 The slow but steady erosion of the ANC's reputation means that, for the first time since 1994,
02:41 Nelson Mandela's party risks losing enough popular support to keep its parliamentary
02:45 majority and may need to form a governing coalition.
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