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South African president defends 30 years of ANC rule in speech to Parliament ahead of elections
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his 2024 state of the nation address in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. - photo by Esa Alexander/pool photo via AP
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — President Cyril Ramaphosa insisted Thursday that his ruling African National Congress party is making progress in addressing South Africa's problems such as record unemployment, an electricity crisis and corruption allegations that have even dented his own reputation. Ramaphosa's nearly two-hour State of the Nation speech to Parliament was largely a defense of his first term in office — and the ANC’s 30 years in government — ahead of elections later this year. Several polls suggest the party once led by Nelson Mandela could lose its majority this year in what would be a landmark moment for South Africa.