South Africa’s ruling African National Congress is fending off fresh crises as the bitter fight for control of the former liberation party grows before President Jacob Zuma steps down as party leader in December. (Halden Krog, File/Associated Press)JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s ruling African National Congress is fending off fresh crises as the bitter fight for control of the former liberation party grows before President Jacob Zuma steps down as party leader in December. South Africa’s economy has suffered from the party’s turmoil, dipping briefly into recession in recent months while aftershocks continue from Zuma’s firing of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan earlier this year. Whoever leads the party ahead of 2019 elections likely will become South Africa’s next president. South Africa’s opposition parties have seized on the turbulence in the ruling party, which has been in power since the country’s first all-race elections in 1994.

Source: Washington Post September 10, 2017 09:40 UTC