Africa

South Africa's ruling party faces biggest election challenge

Associated Press
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Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa centre back, greets opposition Economic Freedom Front party members at the results center in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. With 95 percent of votes counted the ruling ANC appears to have suffered its biggest electoral blow since it won power at the end of the apartheid era 22-years ago. (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)

South Africa's ruling party is facing its biggest election challenge since it took power at the end of apartheid 22 years ago.

Final results of municipal elections are being announced at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) Saturday. Races remain too close to call in the country's largest city, Johannesburg, and the capital region of Tshwane.

The African National Congress for a generation had widespread support on the strength of its successful fight against white-minority rule. But it has been challenged by corruption scandals and a stagnant economy that has frustrated the country's urban middle class.

The ANC already has lost its first major black-majority municipality, Nelson Mandela Bay. The opposition Democratic Alliance, which has roots in the anti-apartheid movement and was white-led until last year, has predicted victory in Tshwane.