JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party has lost its outright majority for the first time in a devastating blow for the party once led by Nelson Mandela. The ANC has dominated South African politics since winning in the first post-apartheid elections 30 years ago.

The ANC was braced for a disappointing outcome, predicted by polls before Wednesday’s elections, but the final results are even more sobering. It won 40 percent of the vote, falling from 57% in 2019.

  • @talEnglish
    12•29 days ago

    baited breath

    “bated breath”

    https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/with_bated_breath

    From the verb bate, alteration by aphesis of the verb abate (“to reduce; lessen”). Coined by William Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice, see quotations.

    with bated breath

    1. With reduced breath.

    2. (idiomatic) Eagerly; with great anticipation.

    We are waiting with bated breath for the release of the new version.