South Africans Head to Polls

Fifteen years into democracy, South Africans flock to the polls Wednesday in just the fourth election since the end of apartheid. A new opposition party will try to attract a portion of the potential 23 million South African voters, many of whom have become disenchanted with the ruling African National Congress party. But polls show most citizens will vote for the ANC, extending its rule another five years and prompting some to question whether South Africa is becoming a one-party state. “There is nothing in the constitution that says a massive majority for the ruling party is bad for democracy,” says shoo-in ANC presidential candidate Jacob Zuma. “Especially a party that has a track record of upholding the constitution like the ANC!” The opposition claims Zuma strong-armed prosecutors into dropping a corruption case against him.