Sharing power is working in South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA HAS had a hard time of it lately.

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Economic growth has remained anemic for years. Youth unemployment is sky high. The state-run electricity utility is failing. Road, rail, water, and port infrastructure are in disrepair, and the country has failed to attract enough skilled workers or foreign capital to help turn things around. Voters have no one to blame but the ruling African National Congress, Nelson Mandela's party, which has dominated the country's politics since the end of apartheid three decades ago.

In 2019, voters punished the ANC, and its election vote share slipped below 58%. Vowing a better performance for South Africa's longsuffering people, President Cyril Ramaphosa saw his government slide further into dysfunction. Then, on May 29 of this year, an earthquake shook the country's politics. The ANC vote dipped to 40.2%-enough for a firstplace finish, but far short of the parliamentary majority needed to govern without a coalition partner.